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[mythologiafennica]

Help make mythologiafennica better!

Good evening fellow friends of mythos!

As you might’ve noticed, I’m reviving this dear blog of mine and I was hoping you might help me with making it the best it can be. So following are a few thigs I’d like your opinions on:

The length of the posts – should I keep my posts short and simple, or go more in detail with longer texts? Short posts I might be able to provide few times a week, but if I’m doing longer texts it will only be one post per week.

The subjects – do you prefer general information or would you like to also hear my opinions on some matters?

Spells? – since quite a few of the people in this community are witches, would you like me to share old spells, in Finnish and freely translated to English? Would that be useful to you?

Other mediums outside of writing – should I make videos? I’ve been thinking about the possibility of videos but I’m not yet certain if that’s something I’d really be able to do well enough. Live Q&A’s might be fun?

Anything else? – is there something else you might have in mind that you’d like me to take into consideration whilst working on the revival of mythologiafennica? Feedback? I’d very much appreciate your opinions!

Thank you already and I hope you’re as excited as I am for what the future holds!

- Jona

[mythologiafennica]

[mythologiafennica]

Omens in Finnish folklore

So it happened one time in Jyväskylä, that a capercaillie flew to sit at the rooftop of a church and in no time, the priest of the church died suddenly. The next year died another priest, and soon enough the whole church burned down.

Omens have always played a big part in people’s lives, be they good or bad. Dog days (fin. mätäkuu, literally rot-moon) are still considered an ill time to perform any surgeries and if one gets a cut during the period it’s clear that the wound will take longer to heal. Old habits die hard?

So here’s a deep dive into omens and premonitions in Finnish folklore. Enjoy!

Martaat – animals as death omens

“Häviöksi pyy talossa, metsot miesten kuolemaksi” (A loss in a home is a hazel hen, a capercaillie the death of men.)

Marras was usually a wild animal or game behaving out of the ordinary; passing through someone’s yard or trying to come into a house. The line between one’s home and the wilderness was a very distinctive one and once it was broken, it was certain that something bad was about to occur.

If one was out fishing and a fish then just jumped to the boat, it was definitely a marras, since life wasn’t supposed to be easy and good things that come without having to work for them can only be bad omens.

Here are some examples of martaat:

redstart & nightjar: news of someone’s death would soon be heard

wild animal on the yard: news of someone’s death would be heard

wild animal in the house: death in the household

death of a horse: the man of the house would die soon after

death of a cow: the matron of the house would die soon after

chicken running off to the woods: someone of the household would die

forest grouse on the yard: someone of the household would die

black grouse on the roof: a very bad omen, disease or death in the household

woodpecker pecking the walls: very bad, disease or death in the household

a bird flying into the house: definite death for someone in the household

a bird flying to the window: if it dies, death, if it suffers, disease

a mouse eating someone’s clothes: the owner of the clothing would die

bugs or rodents appearing in the house: certainly death in the household

hadrobregmus pertinax: also known as the deathwatch beetle, makes a sound like a ticking clock, which meant death for someone in the household

hearing an owl: drowning

In fact, most birds were seen as bad omens or bringers of death rather than as good omens. All black birds, ravens and crows, were always death omens. It was also commonly believed that everyone had a sort of a soul-bird, sielulintu, that would come in to the house to take away the spirit of the dying person. Some might also see the sielulintu as the manifestation of the dying person’s free soul (fin. vapaasielu), which is already passing on to the next world, even though the body is not yet dead. This ties in with the three soul -concept, where one can lose their soul in more than one way.

Death omens

The gathering of kalmanväki (folk of death, the dead) around someone was a certain sign of death. Kalmanväki were the anonymous dead, those who had been deceased for so long that all signs of their living selves were gone and they were now a part of this bigger whole, kalmanväki. Other names for kalmanväki were keijukaiset (fairies) and menninkäiset (pixies.) They brought with them the reek of corpses and rot, they could manifest as vague spirits or f.ex as a swarm of flies.

During the turning points of the seasons, when the world of the living and the world beyond were closest to each other, one might easily spot death omens. If one went out during Christmas night and walked counterclockwise around the house three times and then looked inside, the people to die before next Christmas would look headless.

Bird omens

“Kuu kiurusta kesään, puoli kuuta peipposesta, västäräkistä vähäsen, pääskysestä ei päivääkään” (One moon to summer from a lark, half a moon from a finch, a little still from a wagtail, zero from a swallow.)

Birds were seen as bringers of omens most likely due to their ability to fly and travel “unseen” to the world beyond. Birds could be seen as manifestations of dead loved ones, their acting and singing could be interpreted to bring about good or bad luck, a birth or a death.

A wagtail was a sign of good luck or upcoming fortune, a raven or a crow bringing an object to one’s house would also bring good luck. A starling stood as a sign for a fire, after seeing it one had to wash their eyes to shake away the effect. A redstart flying under a cow’s belly would turn the milk into blood. (To undo this, the bird would need to fly the same path in reverse.)

It was also very typical to think that seeing a bird on a certain time of day would ruin the rest of it, so birdwatching was not a common hobby. A magpie in the morning would bring about disease or illness, to hear migratory birds (swallow, lark, crane, cuckoo) singing in the spring morning before eating anything would ruin the whole summer for the one who heard the song. This ruin would stick to the person and then spread around with them. If they were to sow a field it would dry and bear no crop. They might also lose all luck in love. The most problematic thing about being ruined by a bad bird omen was that it could only be removed by seeing a good bird omen (and remember, there weren’t many.)

A way to protect oneself from the effects of these bad omens was to throw a somersault so that your back touched the ground or to bite on an alder tree, which was thought to be one of the most powerful trees due to it’s bloodlike colouring. The best way to spare oneself of the ill effect of bird omens was simply to eat the first thing in the morning. Breakfast is important!

Migratory birds were an important factor in foretelling. Following the migration was a good way to measure the seasons, and the weather the birds brought along would tell of the coming harvest season.

Other omens

Huunpurema, huu: a bruise that appears for no apparent reason, meant someone close to you would die

spider: luck with sheep herding would end if one killed a spider, otherwise just seeing a spider meant good luck

arguing while fishing: no luck in fishing, this effect might stretch on for a whole generation

a cat rubbing it’s eyes: female guests were to be expected

a cat licking it’s butt: male guests were to be expected

a cat gazing out a window: a storm was coming

a dog howling in the direction of a house: someone in the house would die

a dog howling towards the sky: a fire would come

a strand of hay in a pig’s mouth: bad weather

dropping a bread buttered side down: guests were coming

cutting bread so that it crumbles: an argument was arising

finding a six or four leaf clover: good luck, better keep that safe, or eat it in order to gain it’s power

finding a five leaf clover: oh dear, bad luck

wearing a piece of clothing the wrong way around: good luck

snatching a strand of hay from a woodpecker’s nest: congratulations, you are now a master of picking locks and can break and enter anywhere!

What sort of omens do you know of? I would very much like to hear them! Also do tell me if you think I have missed something here. Beware of bad omens!

Questions?

[mythologiafennica]

Wilderness by Laszlo Feischmidt

[mythologiafennica]

Juhannus – the magic and the myths of Finnish Midsummer

You know the picture, dark silhouettes of people dancing frantically around a flaming red bonfire. Bare feet, love potions, sauna, odd rituals, a night that never comes, a sun that doesn’t set. You know the picture.

Even to this day Juhannus (’Midsummer’) has a special meaning to Finns. It’s completely normal to go ask your boss if you can leave the office a little early today since it’s Juhannus and you’re supposed to go to your cottage. (That is, if your boss hasn’t already left for the exact same reason.)

We burn our bonfires, we gather seven flowers, hop over seven fences and sleep with the tiny bouquet under our pillows in order to get a glimpse of our future lover in our dreams. But where do these old habits come from? What is Juhannus at it’s core? Well gather around the candle children, for I will do my best to unravel it.

The origin

As in many other European cultures, Juhannus is a celebration of fertility and light. During the pre-Christian times, this celebration was held in the name of the god Ukko. When Christianity started to gain hold the celebration got to carry the name of John the Baptist (fin. Johannes) since his birthday was supposedly celebrated around the same time. The old name, Ukon juhla (celebration of Ukko) held on in southern Karelia until the late 1800′s. In some dialects Juhannus is called mittumaari, mettumaari & messumaari.

The events

Certainly the most well known tradition associated with Juhannus is the bonfires. This originated from Karelia and was absorbed into the celebrations held across the country during the 1900′s. So this is in fact a fairly new part of the festivities. The bonfires are mostly associated with the cleansing of bad spirits and bringing about good fortune, good crops and healthy cattle.

Bathing in the sauna was done early in the day, so as to be clean and ready to take on the nightless night when the time came. The sauna and the house would be adorned with green leaved trees, most commonly birch and/or aspen. Young birch trees would be cut down and placed on either side of the main door and to frame windows. A thorough cleaning of the house was also considered an important tradition, as usual during the turning of seasons. The clean floors would then be covered with the leaves of rowan, aspen and bird cherry.

In parts of Ostrobothnia people set up a spruce tree on the yard (sort of like a Christmas tree, but trimming away all branches except for the very top, leaving a hat of sorts.) This tree then stood on the yard until kekri, harvest time. Whereas birches would be taken down quite soon after Juhannus was celebrated.

The magic

As is with so many other seasonal turning points, Juhannus was also seen as a time when the borders of the spirit world and our world thinned, and therefore it was a brilliant time for magical purposes. Love related magic was not only very popular but also easy for everyone to do. Juhannus was the time when one could catch a glimpse of their future, be it good harvest or a new lover.

The dew that covered the fields on Juhannus was seen as the very power of the crops and thus it held immense power. One would collect it from their own fields, store it and give it to the cattle when autumn came in order to strengthen the cattle with the force of summer before winter. The dew was also used to cure various common illnesses, either by drinking it or sprinkling it on the skin.

As concluded in my text about healing, people believed that the amount of good fortune was fixed, and therefore one could perform dark magic on the night of Juhannus and snatch away another’s good fortune by collecting the dew from their field and sprinkling it on their own. This way their crops would flourish as the other’s would shrivel and die.

The dew also provided help in powerful love spells. After a maiden who desired to be wed returned from watching a bonfire (or right after bathing in the sauna) she would roll naked in the fields belonging to a house where a desired partner lived. The powerful dew would then stick to the maiden’s skin, and furthermore, when the men of the house would later in the year eat the bread of the crops, the lust and desire would then get a hold of them as well. And they would then live happily ever after.

Here’s a little list of easy midsummer magic for seeing your future partner:

place a four leaved clover under your pillow for the night

place a wreath tied with nine strands of hay under your pillow for the night

look into a well, naked, at midnight

listen to the cuckoo singing in the night, each sound is one year until you will meet your lover

walk around a triangle shaped field thrice, naked, and on the third time you will meet your lover

the smoke from the bonfire blows towards the one to be wed soon

if logs stood up after the bonfire burned low, there would be as many spinsters as there were logs standing up

walking backwards towards a pile of logs after sauna would determine the kind of lover you would get, if your butt hit a log that was split in half your lover would be taken or married already, but if it was still whole your lover was single and would be your entirely

The myth

Aarni, the guardian deity of treasure, cleaned his treasure during the night of Juhannus. He would burn away the mildew and rust on his coins and jewels, creating a magical flame with a blue hue. This rare flame was called aarnivalkea (cf. wisp) and by following this blue light one might stumble upon a fortune.

One could increase their chances of spotting such a blue flame by looking for it through a ring shaped object; better still if the ring was formed naturally, such as a twig that had formed into the shape of a ring as it grew. A skull worked also, but it had to be fetched from the cemetery on a midsummer’s night. The best place to look for an aarnivalkea would be from high up a tree or at the crossroads where three roads met.

The journey to the treasure of Aarni was a perilous one during which one would meet all sorts of horrors from the world beyond, one of them being a mythical ox. If one was brave enough to hold the ox by it’s horns they might wake in the morning to see that they were holding a pot of treasure instead.

Pteridium aquilinum, bracken (fin. sananjalka, saniainen), was believed to bloom only on the night of Juhannus. It was believed that it used to be a beautifully blooming plant until someone had wiped her ass with the leaf of a bracken, and the poor plant was so ashamed of this that it only dared to bloom in the midst of midsummer’s night.

If one was lucky enough to see this mythical blooming they might also be able to snatch the seed of the bracken, which was believed to grant one magical powers, such as the ability to turn invisible. Another magical trick was to cut the bracken close to it’s root at a slant and then look at the black dots appearing on the surface. These would form the initials of, you guessed it, one’s future lover.

Getting drunk and being noisy during Juhannus was believed to bring about a good harvest and good fortune as well as banish bad spirits. So in honour of these ancient traditions, that is exactly what I plan to do this Juhannus, drink responsibly and make some noise to keep away the forces of evil.

Questions?

[mythologiafennica]

which worldwide deity am i?

Mielikki is the Finnish goddess of forests and the hunt. She is referred to in various tales as either the wife or the daughter-in-law of Tapio, and the mother of Nyyrikki and Tuulikki. She is said to have played a central role in the creation of the bear. In the Finnish national epic Kalevala, the hero Lemminkäinen offers her and Tapio prayers, gold and silver so he can catch the Hiisi elk. In another passage, Mielikki is asked to protect cattle grazing in the forest. In a country where the forest was central to providing food through hunting, gathering and cattle grazing, it was thought very important to stay on her good side. Mielikki is known as a skillful healer who heals the paws of animals who have escaped traps, helps chicks that have fallen from their nests and treats the wounds of wood grouses after their mating displays. She knows well the healing herbs and will also help humans if they know well enough to ask her for it. Her name is derived from the old Finnish word mielu which means luck.

tagged by @pclyxena, tagging @queeniegoldtsein, @ereinixn, @penhallow, @carstairsjames, @jediknightrey, @freiyja, @elvntari, @andrewsminyards, @andromedes

[mythologiafennica]

Thank you!

Hi ya! you'v probably been asked before, but do you know of any good finnish mythology books for a girl to get started with? I found out about my finnish heritage only a few months ago which was a root my family lost when they moved to New Zealand a few generations ago. im half way through the Kalevala but i can find any other Finnish Mythos books that have been translated to english? any suggestions?

Hello!

This is indeed a question I have received quite a few times, but unfortunately not too many good English books on Finnish folklore and mythology exist out there.

Kalevala in fact, is inarguably Karelian, not Finnish, even though it is often regarded as such. I too, am doing my best here in this blog to make a distinction between Kalevala and Finnish mythology. Many deities and aspects are indeed similar, but it is so for every mythology.

There is one book that serves as a good introduction that has been translated into English, Finnish folklore by Leea Virtanen & Thomas DuBois

(If anyone else has any other recommendations do let me know, I might try and make a page for book recs in the future)

[mythologiafennica]

Finno-Ugric minority languages.

[mythologiafennica]

Hi ya! you'v probably been asked before, but do you know of any good finnish mythology books for a girl to get started with? I found out about my finnish heritage only a few months ago which was a root my family lost when they moved to New Zealand a few generations ago. im half way through the Kalevala but i can find any other Finnish Mythos books that have been translated to english? any suggestions?

Hello!

This is indeed a question I have received quite a few times, but unfortunately not too many good English books on Finnish folklore and mythology exist out there.

Kalevala in fact, is inarguably Karelian, not Finnish, even though it is often regarded as such. I too, am doing my best here in this blog to make a distinction between Kalevala and Finnish mythology. Many deities and aspects are indeed similar, but it is so for every mythology.

There is one book that serves as a good introduction that has been translated into English, Finnish folklore by Leea Virtanen & Thomas DuBois

(If anyone else has any other recommendations do let me know, I might try and make a page for book recs in the future)

[mythologiafennica]

Hey, just about that list of Finnish mythological characters. Iku-turso to be specific, since he can/was once classified as the finnish god of war as well, before turning into the simple sea monster we now know

I believe you’re referring to Agricola’s assumption that Iku-Turso was a derivation of Turisas, who indeed was regarded as a god of war in the häme-region. So in my opinion, Iku-Turso and Turisas are two different deities.

Iku-Turso is definitely the more documented one of the two, but it could be possible that both beings are derived from the old norse Þurs, a giant, since both seem to be strong, mighty and terrible deities.

[mythologiafennica]

Finnish forest spirit.

[mythologiafennica]

Brown bear and ravens

npekonen

[mythologiafennica]

ℑ𝔫𝔳𝔬𝔠𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫, 2019. Affecting the weather and raising destructive storms was believed to be a common element of harmful sorcery in Europe throughout the medieval and post-classical era. The very earliest sources on witchcraft and weather magic describe naked women raising storms, especially lightning and hail. Christian authorities regarded these women as demonic sorcerers, and omens of destruction.
However, there are also stories in which they appear as wise women who were the vestiges of the priestesses and sorceresses from the old Germanic age, cursed by the church for practicing heathen magic. These were the women that had ancient knowledge about natural medicine, nature, meteorology and so forth. Knowledge not shared by the common people. Knowledge that gave these women immense power because it was intimidating. Power for which they were admired and feared at the same time. Once rid of the fearful and vilifying gaze, we can recover these women’s knowledge and ancient beliefs, rendering them human, wise and powerful once more. (via Instagram)

[mythologiafennica]

On Kiira Thursday (Maundy Thursday) people expelled a malevolent force called “Kiira” from the yard. The purification was conducted with the help of fire, juniper, tar, and the sound of cowbells. All these materials would cause evil spirits to flee the region. In some areas, the purpose of the purification was said to the expulsion of dangerous snakes. According to oral tradition from Hankasalmi, the master of the house would drag a basket with burning tar around the yard. He walked the yard twice clockwise and once counter-clockwise. Behind him walked a man waving an alder rod. The second man shouted: “Kiira, go to the forest, fire in your mouth, some in your nostrils, stake to your back, shovel to your croup!” The yard was also purified with various iron objects. The master of the house could walk around the yard with an axe, or the hostess could do the same while wearing all the iron objects found in the house: shears, sickles, knives and pliers. The purpose of these ceremonies was to clean the home with the help of traditional protective elements such as sounds, fire, tar and juniper smoke. The traditions of the day have been interpreted as a folk version of the Catholic rituals connected with the day. The folk customs also bear similarities to the spring traditions of Slavic and Baltic peoples. These traditions include burning or expelling of a symbol of the old winter to make way for the new spring. In many regions of Finland Maundy Thursday was a day of cleaning. In Karelia and Häme people washed every corner of the house on this day. People also considered Maundy Thursday to be the best time for disposing old clothes, cutting hair, beard and nails, as well as making shingles for burning. Translation: Anssi A.

[mythologiafennica]

“Untar is the Finnish deity of fog and mist, and lives in the highest regions of the heavens. She passes the mist through a silver sieve before sending it to earth.” 

Source

[mythologiafennica]

Hi guys! I’m sorry for my absence, I’ve been up in Äkäslompolo with my close relatives for this past week and even though I have my computer with me I haven’t been able to find the time for writing here. Instead I’ve just been enjoying the absolutely breathtaking winter here, skiing every day and just taking in all this beauty.

[mythologiafennica]

I am wanting, I am thinking To arise and go forth singing, Sing my songs and say my sayings, Hymns ancestral harmonizing, Lore of kindred lyricking. In my mouth the words are melting; Utterances overflowing To my tongue are hurrying, Even against my teeth they burst. - Come good brother, little brother,  Pretty playmate of my childhood, Start now with me for the singing Sit together for the speaking, Now that we have met together, After separate pathways travelled; Seldom do we come together, Rarely do we have each other In these ragged border regions, These benighted northern marches. - Strike we now hand into hand, Fingers into curve of fingers, So that we may sing good songs, Voice the best of all our legends For the hearing of our loved ones, Those who want to learn them from us, Those among the rising young ones Of the growing generation. Magic verses we have gathered, Kindled by the inspiration From the belt of Vainamoinen, Under forge of Ilmarinen, Sword blade of the man far-minded, Aim of Joukahainen’s crossbow, From the way-back fields of Northland, From the heaths of Kalevala. - Long ago my father sang them As he carved his ax’s handle And my mother also taught me Though she kept her spindle spinning, As I, milk-bearded mischief maker,  Clabber-mouthed and tiny tumbler, Rolled about the floor before her: Magic never failed the Sampo, Louhi never lacked for spells; Old in story grew the Sampo, In her spells old Louhi vanished, In his singing Vipunen, Lemminkainen in his capers. - There are other words of magic, Incantations I have learned, Plucked in passing from the wayside, Some I broke off from the heather, Some I gathered from the bushes, Others pulled from tender saplings, Rubbed from haytips, snatched from hedges Where I roamed about the cowpaths As a youngster herding cattle, Minding cows in cattle pastures On honeyed hills and hillocks golden By the side of spotted Frisky,  Trailing Muurikki, the black one. - Then the frost was singing verses, Many a rhyme the rain recited, Other poems the winds delivered, On the seawaves songs came drifting, Magic charms the birds have added And the treetops incantations. - These I rolled up in a ball, Made a fitting yarnball of them, On my sled I put the yarnball,  On my sleigh I hauled it home Right up to the threshing barn, Hid it in a copper casket On a shelf-end in the storehouse

Kalevala - Beginning words.  (via parantajanpolku)

I feel so bad for everyone who can’t read Kalevala in its original language because the English translation is really, really bad.