It is also called tuonela, the realm of tuoni, and pohjola, derived from the word pohja, meaning bottom and also north. Finnish words for mythology include mytologia and jumaltarusto. Like most civilizations, they had a story for how the earth was created, and they believed. Finnish mythology myth encyclopedia god, story, tree. The library of alexandria is an independent small business publisher. Nature itself was a goddess called luonto and it literally means nature in finnish. The journal was aimed at readers interested in finnish literature and culture, and its online archive constitutes a wideranging collection of finnish writing in english. Book excerpt 1 finnish goddess mythology and the golden. Beginnings exhibition takes a closer look at creation accounts and depictions from around the world. Finland is no exception, and mythical creatures remained very much part of finnish folklore until the countrys rapid urbanisation during the 20th century.
The following translation was undertaken from a desire to lay before the englishspeaking people the full treasury of epical beauty, folklore, and mythology comprised in the kalevala, the national epic of the finns. Apr 11, 2015 the kalevala, a poem based on finnish folklore and mythology, is regarded as the national epic of finland. A postage stamp that references the aleksis kivi classic seven brothers. Finnish folklore studia fennica folkloristica, virtanen, leea, dubois, thomas on. Finally, a persons guardian spirit is called luonto. There are so many books on norse mythology out there, especially at the beginner level, that if you were to make a pile with one copy of each it would probably reach all the way up to asgard itself. Myth and mentality finnish literature society suomalaisen. Finnish mythology from godchecker the legendary mythology encyclopedia. Religion has always been the mirror of a society, and the finnish ancient religion perfectly reflects the needs and the daily life of such a magic people. The elk is a common image in many finnish petroglyphs.
A haltija haltia is a spirit, gnome, or elflike creature in finnish mythology that guards, helps, or protects something or somebody. It has many features shared with estonian and other finnic mythologies, but also shares some similarities with neighbouring baltic, slavic and, to a lesser extent, norse mythologies. The survival of baltofinnic myths and spells as a living oral tradition. Haltija haltia is a spirit or creature in finnish mythology, that guards, helps or protects something or somebody. As has been often noted, much of what tom says is, in fact, sung.
Finnish mythology and folklore mythical creatures from. Finnish mythology in the historical fantasy, on blazing wings, author l. Riordan s made a name for himself with his middle grade fantasy books inspired by ancient myths. Our unique mythology dictionary includes original articles, pictures, facts and information from finnish mythology. Every country and every region around the world seems to have its own werewolf legends it seems. He is a handsome young man, a hero, but also a frivolous, ostentatious character with liking for women and battles. The word is possibly derived from the gothic haltijar, and referred to the original settler of a homestead although this is not the only possible etymology. Its been a while so i may have just gotten all that wrong. Here are ten of your favourite finnish books, as selected by thisisfinland readers. Wait for a chilly day and then curl up next to the fire with these.
Written by distinguished scholars from multiple perspectives, this account widens the interpretative scope on religious life among the prechristian scandinavian people. The principal god was the god of thunder and the sky, ukko. It has many features shared with fellow finnic estonian mythology and its nonfinnic neighbours, the balts and the scandinavians. Louhi possesses the power of magic and at one point she steals the sun and moon and locks them away.
In finnish folk religion, the divine mother is the virgin mary or maaria in finnish and she is remembered in songs and spells as a spiritual mother, healer, helper and protector of motherhood. A digital edition of a printed book first published in 2002 by the finnish literature society. First you will learn how the finns viewed their gods, and then how we came to know about. We specialize in bringing back to live rare, historical and ancient books.
Haltija haltia is a jinn in finnish mythology, that guards, helps or protects something or somebody. The kalevala, a poem based on finnish folklore and mythology, is regarded as the national epic of finland. Finnish paganism wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. The luonto could come from the original ancestor of that person sort of like a totem animal or be another kind of spirit or entity, which normally lived in the spirit world or in the land of the dead, but could be raised to give the person special powers and protect them. A luonto could appear in the form of a person or animal but sometimes it was understood as the. Nature has its own haltijas, for example the haltijas of water and haltijas of the forest. We asked fans to vote for their favourite finnish book. Finns have the power of darkness, finns are wizards. Finnish mythology is the mythology that went with finnish paganism which was practised by the finnish people prior to christianisation.
It borders on the gulf of bothnia and sweden in the west, on norway in the north, on russia in the east, and on the gulf of finland and the baltic sea in the south. Finnish mythical creatures still lurk thisisfinland. As such, the 28 of february has been set aside in finland as a day to commemorate this piece of national literature and finnish culture. Surprise your finnish friends with one of our traditional books and be sure to be praised by your friend or relative.
Finnish mythological bird who protects ones soul while being asleep. List of books and articles about finnish history online. Some thoughts on the finnish origins of tom bombadil and treebeard. It was a polytheistic religion, worshipping a number of different deities. Most of the myths date from prechristian times and were passed from. The kalevala was compiled by elias lonnrot from karelian and contains 50 poems or songs known also as cantos or runes which are about legendary heroes. Ukko, ahto, and tuoni in finnish mythology correspond roughly with zeus.
In finnish mythology vainamoinen was a wise old magician, the son of the primal goddess ilmatar. A book of finnish fairy tales and folk tales by parker fillmore 1922, harcourt brace and company. In finnish mythology there are several species of elves. The folklore and fairy tales of finland are often heartwarming tales of bravery and goodness, where kindness is rewarded, and the simple life praised. In finnish mythology a mysterious virgin by the name of iro is said to have given birth to the three divine brothers at the beginning of times. David duane is a courageous mercenary pilot hired to fight for finland against russia in the winter war. Free audio books in finnish that you can download in mp3, ipod and itunes format for your portable audio player. Yleensa luonto rauhoittaa kiutakongas teki mielen enemmankin levottomaksi. Kullervo m finnish, finnish mythology derived from finnish word kulta gold. Myths, culture and feelings from the ancient finland. Puhdistus by sofi oksanen, the year of the hare by arto paasilinna, memory of water by emmi itaranta, moominland midwin. Finnish paganism was the indigenous pagan religion in finland, estonia and karelia prior to christianisation.
Leena siikala academy professor, university of helsinki, what myths. The word is possibly derived from the compound maanala, the space or area under the earth. This is a comprehensive online archive of books from finland, an independent englishlanguage literary journal. Ron hubbard takes you to pohjola, where the hero finds himself between the veil of life and death after being shot down in battle, confronted by the ruler of the dead.
World view of the ancient finnougric tribes was animistic and they believed that every single tree, stream, river, stone, person, animal, lake and flower had a spirit inside them. The finns active cultural life is especially evidenced by. And, our comprehensive collection of finnish music cds includes music by carl nielsen as well as several cds with prolific conductor osmo vanska. Folklore and mythology are strong influences in modern. Creation of the world according to kalevala, finnish mythology. Haltijas are the main and most common mythological creatures in finnish mythology. In this lesson you will learn about finnish mythology and some of the god and goddesses the finns revered. Trying to decide where to start or where to go next from your current position, continue reading the 10 best norse mythology books.
Cook books from minnesotabased scandinavian cooking author, beatrice ojakangas, will guide you through several classic and contemporary finnish recipes. The mythology of the kalevala, with notes on bearworship. There are many books about the finnish and finnougric mythology, but they are not stories but nonfiction. Magnus chase is just a kida kid who happens to be the son of norse god, a fact he discovers just as ragnarok rolls around. Finns have the power of darkness, finns are wizards this was the cry of the viking warriors who feared nothing. A short history of finland traces the historical development of the country from its settlement by the finns in the first millennium ad to the present time, exploring finlands earlier connection with sweden, the complex relationship with russia that has dominated finnish history in the past two centuries, and the postwar achievements of the.
The religion of the viking age is conventionally identified through its mythology. Wikimedia commons has media related to mythology of finland pages in category finnish mythology the following 12 pages are in this category, out of 12 total. Finnish mythology, like that of many other cultures, tells the stories of gods and legendary heroes. Most of the myths date from prechristian times and were passed from generation to generation by storytellers. Where can i find stories of finnish mythology other than the kalevala. Word tonttu is derived from the word tontti which means an estate or a place of a building. Jan 27, 2017 although tom bombadil didnt appear in peter jacksons movie adaptations of tolkiens books, he is one of most readers favorite characters. It is for this reason that the main theme in finnish mythology. Finnish mythology and folk tales include countless amount of elementals, nature spirits and deities. Manala, in finnish mythology, the realm of the dead. Ill 1934 i traveled to finnish karelia to collect folic traditions. Finnish paganism was the indigenous pagan religion in finland, estonia, and karelia prior to.
The 10 best norse mythology books norse mythology for. Lemminkainen is one of the heroes of the kalevala, a 19thcentury national epic compiled by elias lonnrot, a finnish physician, philologist and collector. Ive read a little bit about the finnish myths, i think in the kalevala, doesnt the main character fall in love with his sister, and then they both end up killing themselves. Our picks for ten of the best finnish books will take you through the countrys history in the care of writers and characters who will guide you in a way that history books or mere pictures never could. In finnish epic kalevala kullervo kalervonpoika son of kalervo was a beautiful man with hair of golden colour and tragic life. Many fabulous finnish figures appear in the runic poems of the kalevala the. Finns have been telling each other stories of their gods and guardians for centuries. The word is possibly derived from the gothic haltijar, which referred to the original settler of a homesteadalthough this is not the only possible etymology. Aijoaijo was most likely finnish supreme god once upon a time. Every countrys mythology has its own cast of strange creatures, monsters and legendary human figures. Finnish paganism was the indigenous pagan religion in finland, estonia, and karelia prior to christianisation.
Finnish mythology is a commonly applied description of the folklore of finnish paganism, of which a modern revival is practiced by a small percentage of the finnish people. Finnish paganism news newspapers books scholar jstor january 2009 learn how and when to remove this template message. Climate change, earthbased indigenous knowledge and the gift kaarina kailo 2018. Vainamoinen m finnish mythology derived from finnish vaina meaning wide and slowflowing river. If youve found this site to be helpful, please consider making a secure paypal donation via the button below. Although tom bombadil didnt appear in peter jacksons movie adaptations of tolkiens books, he is one of most readers favorite characters. Sep 21, 2017 louhi possesses the power of magic and at one point she steals the sun and moon and locks them away. In finnish mythology different phenomenons in nature were often. Sutherland lemminkainen is a prominent figure in finnish mythology.
Your guide to the finnish gods, spirits, demons and legendary monsters. Fairies in finnish mythology and folklore niina niskanen. The term luonto was used in ritual descriptions to refer to a dynamistic. The fact that the finnish people know their werewolves by the name of vironsusi is odd, seeing as how this translates into estonian wolf. Finnish mythology survived christianisation by being told as myths.