Martha organisation

The Martha organisation (Finnish: Marttaliitto, Swedish: Martharörelsen) is a Finnish organisation, founded by Lucina Hagman in 1899. The organisation defines its activities as follows: "The Martha organisation is a citizens' organisation providing advice in home economics, with the aim of furthering welfare in homes and families, and providing diverse activities and possibilities of influencing the community to its members." The Martha organisation takes its name from the Biblical figure of Martha.

A Martha organisation booth selling hot waffles, photographed in 2009.

The organisation has a three-tier structure. The lowest tier consists of local Martha communities and clubs, which the members belong to. These communities belong to regional Martha suborganisations. The Martha organisation itself is the statewide central organisation. The members of the Martha organisation, called Martta, number about 50 thousand. The Martha communities now also accept male members.[1][2] They are called Martti or Matti.[1][3]

Whereas the organisation's activity was previously focused mainly on the countryside, the organisation has lately sought to expand to cities. University students have also formed Martha communities. Men have founded Martti clubs.

The organisation publishes a magazine called Martat that comes out six times a year.[4] The magazine was formerly named Emäntälehti Martat.

References
  1. Vilenius, Esa: Willit Martat ottivat itselleen laatuaikaa lumikenkäretkellä Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine, Etelä-Saimaa, 9 March 2004. Accessed 16 September 2009.
  2. Ignatius, Heikki: Joensuun torin Marttakahvio täyttää 30 vuotta, Karjalan Maa, 23 July 2004. Accessed 16 September 2009.
  3. Historiikki Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine 2008, Pyhämaan Martat. Accessed 16 September 2009.
  4. "Martat-lehti". Martat (in Finnish). Retrieved 2020-08-22.
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