The Farmer's Almanac
BondepraktikanThe Bondepraktikan or Farmer's Almanac was one of the few books, alongside the Bible, the Hymn Book and Luther's Cathechism, that could be found in the homes of most Swedish farmers. This indicates that most of them could read a little, anyway enough to be able to answer the minster's questions at the time of the clerical survey (husförhör).
But the Bondepraktikan was different, it had not to do with the farmer' immortal soul, but with his work.
The first Bondepraktikan was published in Germany already in 1508, and was mostly concerned with the art of predicting the weather during the coming 12 months, based on the 12 days of Christmas. Later on medical advice was added. In 1666 the first Swedish translation was published and after that it was printed in many editions.
The edition presented here was printed in Jönköping in 1854.
On the first page its says Bonde Praktika orBook of Weathercontaining some fair rules, on how one should know and learn the course of the year, always being the same year by year.
Redlige Bonde! Köp nu mig,
Mycket förstånd lärer jag dig
Bonde-Praktika är mitt namn,
Läs mig, det länder dig till gagn.
Det hela årsens lopp will jag dig lära,
Hwarefter du dig skall regera
Translation:
Honest Farmer, Now buy me
Many sensible things I will teach thee
Farmer's Almanac is my name,
Read me, it will for your best.
The course of the year I will teach thee,
following which you shall do well.
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