A talkoo (from Finnish: talkoot) is a group of people gathering to work together, for instance to build or repair something. The word is borrowed into Finland-Swedish (ett talko, talkot, flera talkon alternatively en talko, talkon, flera talkor[1] (http://www.kotus.fi/svenska/reuter/1991/260791.shtml)), but unknown to most Swedes. It's the cultural equivalent of common work in a village community, although adopted to the conditions of Finland, where traditionally many families lived in isolated farms, often miles away from the nearest village.

A talkoo is per definition voluntary, and the work is unpaid. The voluntariness might be imaginary, due to social pressure, especially in small communities; and one's honor and reputation may be severly damaged if one doesn't show up — or proves to be a foul worker.

The task of the talkoo may be something that is a common concern, i.e. for the good of the group, or it may be to help someone with a task that exceeds his or her own capacity. For instance, elderly neighbors or relatives can need help if their house or garden is damaged by storm, or siblings can agree to arrange a 75-years birthday party for a parent as a talkoo. One of the most common urban forms is to help friends move. The institution bears considerable similarity to barn raising but is more general in application.

Typically, club houses, landings, churches and parish halls can be repaired through a talkoo, but also environmentalist tasks in the neighborhood. The parents of a preschool may gather to improve the playground, or the tenants of a tenement house may arrange talkoo to put their garden in order for the summer or winter. The talkoo institution works less well in greater towns and in larger clubs, where only the very most solidary-minded may show up.

Someone who can't contribute with the actual work may contribute with food for the talkoo party, or maybe as a baby-sitter. When a talkoo is to the benefit of an individual, he or she is the host of the talkoo party, obliged to offer food and drinks according to capacity. Parsimoniousness persecutes for the rest of life.