Mythologies

Finnish

Although more than 90 % of the Finns are officially Lutheran Christian, they are not interested in religion or mysticism. An average Finn goes to church first as a baby to be baptized. The next big event in which he needs the services of the priest is his confirmation which takes place about fifteen years later. Then there will probably be his wedding, the baptizism of his chidren and finally his own funeral. He probably attends the Christmas Day service, too.

But is the Finn so rational as he claims to be? He probably reads his horoscope from the magazine, or even buys one from a professional astrologer. He is particularly cautious on Friday the 13th. But let's probe deeper into his genetic memory. What have the Finns forgotten? What did their ancestors do? What was going on in the Finnish woods, by the thousand lakes? What strange powers were creeping around?

The Christian crusaders started to come to the heathen Finland from both Sweden (the Roman Catholics) and Russia (the Greek Orthodox) in the 11th century. According to a legend, the Finnish peasant Lalli killed one of the crusaders, an English bishop Henry, in 1156. The poor victim became St. Henry, the patron saint of Finland. He and the other Catholic saints were officially abandoned after the Protestant reformation in 1520's. However, they remained in folklore and superstition until the 20th century.

The old Finnish pagan religion was pantheistic. The earth, the fields, the waters, all had spirits. Sacrifices were made to the maahinen, the earth spirits and masters of the elements. By placating these spirits the Finns hoped to be delivered from all kinds of ills, disasters and dangers, and to be granted success in all endeavors. The spirits inhabited certain places, natural things and the elements. For example, the marshes had spirits who flickered like little candles, drawing one out so that one sank in the soft ground and was lost. Merely marsh gas, but a spirit to a Finnish peasant. Some people claim that they have seen earthkins even in our time.

Many Finnish lakes are called "pyh�j�rvi", which means "a holy lake". When Finland became Christianized, some churches were built upon the old pagan shrines. For example, the archaeologists have found the remains of an old p agan cemetery around the church of St. Catherine in the Students' Village of Turku.

The old Finns had many gods and goddesses. The Sky God was called Ukko (meaning "the old man"). He was believed to be responsible for the thunder and to make his voice known in storms. One needed Ukko's powers when healing the sick. It could be collected in thundery weather when there were plenty of lightning, which was thought to be ruled over by the Goddess Rauni, Ukko's wife.

The water gods were Ahti and the evil Vesihiisi, who was believed to live in pools. Ahti and the Goddess Wellamo were supposed to be living in the sea. The most loved gods were the forest god Tapio and the forest goddess Mielikki. Tapio was imagined to be an old man with a grey beard and having a few animals hanging from his belt.

Mielikki, his wife, was very beautiful and had a blue cloak like the Virgin Mary. Silver and gold were asked from her. Tapio and Mielikki also had a son, Nyyrikki, who had a red cap. He was asked to direct the game towards the spear, arrow or snare. Maaemo was the ancient Earth Mother whom the Finns asked for a good harvest.

The Underworld, Tuonela, where the dead were believed to live, was ruled by Tuoni. It was not a pleasant place. The food was strange and there were snakes all over the place. There the dead lived a kind of shadowy life.

The Finnish name for God is "Jumala". It's a very old pre-Christian name. In pagan times Jumala was seen as a kind of creator, the First Power. After the Christianization of Finland, a pagan god or goddess was sometimes invoked in the same spell together with Jesus, Virgin Mary or some Christian saint.

Witches abounded in Finland. The Finnish witch, "noita", usually worked alone and was often a clairvoyant. The witch's oath was made on a stone in the middle of some rapids. One threw a silver coin into the rapids while reciting a spell. The best time for this was Midsummer's Eve.

The traditional Finnish witchcraft has almost completely disappeared from modern Finland. Iisko Kiuru, aged 71 in 1922, said: "Witchery doesn't work any more because nobody believes in it." Clairvoyants still exist, as well as various practitioners of the so-called alternative medicine. There are still cuppers who remove excess and "bad" blood with the help of suction cups, bloodstoppers who use magic words, bone setters and herbalists.

Teachers from foreign countries have recently come to teach the Finns their native religions and occult practices such as magic, divination, witchcraft and shamanism. These activities have no place in the life of the majority of the Finns, however. Finland of today is a peaceful place to live in. It is very unlikely that you will be cursed or bewitched here.

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