Falun Local Customs

The Kåre goat maybe got its name since it is said to have been owned by a Finn and in Finnish, "kauris" means male goat. But Kåre is also an old fashioned Scandinavian man's name so this need not be true (many parts of the copper mine has tunnels etc with goat-related names). In any case, it is a symbol of Falun since legend has it that it was the goat that helped discovering the mine all those centuries ago. It simply came back down the mountain one day with its horns tainted by copper and so, the Finn started looking for the origin of the colour and hence discovered the mine. This particular goat is found in the mining museum and you can see its red horns.

If you go down the mine, you are also told the legend in further detail since miners are supersticious people. The "Mine Lady" was first very cross when her realm was discovered and she threw a rock, nearly killing the discoverer. There are also tales of further, not yet discovered, mines that the lady's brothers own...

The Mine Lady is not supposed to be mentioned by name down the mine as then she will come and get you. As legend says she is very beautiful, miners therefore instead always referred to her as "old granny" to fool her. This has given the entire mine the nickname Old granny ("gamla mormor") and you often find references to this in shop names and such around town.