Help with Finnish folklore?

[Wampa842]

Currently I am collaborating with some people to write a graphic novel that is partly set in Finland. I'd like some recommendations to sources I can learn about Finnish folklore from. Traditions, celebrations, arts, architecture, decoration; anything and everything.

[ajshell1]

I'm not Finnish, but I'd suggest reading the Kalevala.

It's Finland's national epic poem. I'm sure you'll find something in it.

[Wampa842]

I'm reading it as I am writing. I'm at the second Lemminkäinen cycle, I think it's a great read, even if a bit monotone.

But what I want to know is how the people of Finland actually lived in the 19th century. The Kalevala has a lot of useful info about Finnish paganism and mythology, but not a lot of specific descriptions.

[Las-pen]

I'm a Finn. What do you want to know?

Here's few terms that come to my mind. Try googling some of them.

From folklore all I can think is The Groke from the Moomins. Also Santa Claus is Finnish

Traditions: Sauna is something very Finnish. A place to wash your body and mind. Juhannus (Midsummer / St. John's Day in English) is one highpoint of a year. Drinking is always close when it comes to holidays. Be it Christmas, Easter, Midsummer, 1st of May, Finns get drunk. Bonfires are traditionally lit on Easter and Midsummer

Foods:Mämmi is a traditional food we eat on Easter. Salmiak is a "sweet". Potato is pretty much basis to every food we eat.

Drinks: well... beer, booze, anything with alcohol. That and coffee.(Me? I drink neither. Just to be clear.)Architecture: Alvar Aalto

Literature: Tove Jansson (The Moomins), Aleksis Kivi (Seven Brothers), Mika Waltari (Sinuhe, The Egyptian), Elias Lönnrot (Kalevala)

Music: Jean Sibelius

Finns are very quiet and a pretty depressed people who like to drink very, very much. Suicide is a common.

Did I mention we like to drink?

---

About Finnish paganism.

Some gods

Ukko: The high-god. God of sky and weather and harvest. The Finnish term Ukkonen (= Thunder) is derived from him

Ahti: The God of Waters. The one fishermen prayed for good catch.

Tapio: The King of Forest. The one hunters prayed for good prey.

Finns are very agricultural people and Finland is mostly composed from Forests and Lakes, so those are perhaps the most important (at least the most famous) gods.

I would suggest you try Crusader Kings 2 with Old Gods DLC.

Also Karelian mythology is close to Finnish mythology.

Edited September 15, 2014 by diomedea
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