Finland’s Myths and Monsters

Finland, a land of breathtaking landscapes and rich history, is home to a captivating array of mythical creatures and tales.

From the depths of the sea to the heart of the forest, these legends have been woven into the fabric of Finnish culture for centuries. The malevolent Iku-Turso, known as the “ox of death” and “father of diseases,” lurks in the ocean’s depths, while the mischievous Menninkäinen, reminiscent of hobbits and gnomes, dance in the woods and delight in riddles and shiny treasures.

In the vast forests, one may encounter the shape-shifting Peikko, giant trolls feared as bogeymen who kidnap and torture children.

The enchanting Keiju, delicate fairy-like beings, grace the skies and woodlands in three distinct forms: Luonnotar, Ilmatar, and Metsänneito. The enigmatic Hiisi, towering humanoid creatures, dwell in the mountains and forests, marking sacred sites and challenging those who dare to enter their domain. These powerful spirits can be both malevolent and beneficial, causing harm or offering aid when summoned by skilled shamans.

The Näkki, a seaweed-clad immortal water demon, haunts the depths of ponds and rivers, luring unsuspecting children to their watery graves.

Only through the utterance of magical incantations can one hope to escape its grasp. Lastly, the majestic Otso, the king of the forest and bear spirit, is revered as a friend, brother, or even a transformed human, symbolizing the deep connection between the Finnish people and the natural world.

These mythical beings, each with their unique characteristics and stories, continue to capture the imagination and inspire awe in those who explore the fascinating realm of Finnish mythology.

Do evil monsters lurk in the Baltic Sea?

Can bears in the forest spirits of the vanished?

Are gnomes playing tricks in the trees?

What is up, Bizarros!? This week, we are traveling to Finland to dive into Finnish mythology and folklore. 

Finland

Finland is part of Scandinavia. It is one of the oldest countries in the world and has beautiful countryside. The Finnish people and visitors have the freedom to roam.

Finland is constantly listed as one of the happiest, most educated, and profitable countries in the world.

That amazing country has a unique history, which is not Norse; it is its own people. Today, we’re talking about Finish monsters and myths.

Finnish Mythical Creatures

The Iku-Turso Aka Tursas

Though it’s not quite clear what the Tursas look like. He was described as the many-horned one, called the ox of death, and the father of diseases.

He is really just an evil monster in the sea. He’s just a little guy that evil.

Menninkäinen

The Menninkäinen is the Finnish version of the Cleveland Browns logo.

They are little people who live in the woods and like to pull pranks and mischief on people. They are like fairies but more like gnomes or brownies.

They are remarkably similar to hobbits. They are short humanoids who wear pointed hats and live underground. They dance in the forest, tell riddles, and are obsessed with shiny treasure.

Rumpelstiltskin would be a close example of a Menninkäinen.

Peikko

This creature is essentially a giant troll that looks like land and eventually becomes part of the land. They can range in size, but they are most notable when they are large.

Some also say they can change shape and size at will.

These creatures are not just lumbering around, though. They are feared as bogeymen.

They are known for kidnapping children who go into the woods alone. And they torture them by drilling holes in their teeth.

Keiju

These creatures are the stereotypical fairy. They are small women with butterfly wings.

There are subcategories to these fairies. There are three that reside in Finland.

The first is the Luonnotar.

Luonnotars can be found wandering in the forest.

The second is Ilmatar.

Ilmatars sit in the sky, e.g., on a rainbow, and glow a white, silver, or golden light.

The third is Metsänneito:

Metsänneito looks like young maidens who can be seen in the woods.

Hiisi 

The Hiisi are large humanoid six to seven-foot goblin-like creatures, sometimes also perceived as Old Gods.

They live in the forests, the water, and deep in the mountains of Finland.

They were said to mark places in the wilderness where sacrifices to the gods were made. Some of those places are still called Hiisi’s churn.

The mountains are called Hiisi’s Castles. Men travel to the Hiisi mountain to find a bride among the Hiisi daughters. When they arrive, the Hiisi Queen receives them and gives them tasks.

Forests and mountains are Hiisi’s lands, and when going there, one must be protected by magical iron gear.

With an iron cap, an iron coat,
with an iron helmet o’er my neck,
with iron gloves upon my hands,
with iron boots upon my feet,
with them, I’ll enter Hiisi’s lands,
I’ll wander over Lempo’s lands.
Magical Songs of the Finns

Some myths say the Hiisi have, in part, turned into devil-like creatures who attack, poison, and cause accidents. Hiisi are known to shoot invisible arrows into humans and animals to cause pain.

There is another story about the Hiisi.

The Hiisi take an axe and push the axe of the shaman Väinämöinen and cause life-threatening bleeding.

Evil Hiisi grasps the hatchet,
Lempo (his goon) takes the crooked handle,
Turns aside the axe in falling,

He Strikes the rocks, and it breaks to pieces;
From the rocks rebound, the fragments,
Pierce the flesh of the magician,
and it cuts the knee of Wainamoinen.

At the same time, the Hiisi are forceful spirits of nature that can be summoned in challenging situations.

One can summon the Hiisi. Healer shamans would call them to help stop bleeding.

They would say

O Hiisi, come from Hiitola,
thou hump-backed from the home of gods
come hither with thy sons,
with thy sons and thy serving-girls,
with thy whole nation too,
with utmost speed to crush,
to eat this evil thing,
to lap this monstrous evil up.

They are also called to take revenge against evildoers. Hiisi’s bloody cloak is placed on those who eavesdrop and curse with an evil eye.

If envious persons look,
… may the bloody cloak of Hiitola,
may Hiisi’s gory rug,… be bound across the eyes,
be fastened round the ears,
… so that with eyes, they can’t be seen,
so that with ears, they can’t be heard.

Näkki

The Näkki is the Finnish water monster. It is a malevolent water demon that is known to live in the deepest ends of ponds and rivers.

They are said to be made completely from seaweed and are immortal underwater.

They are the thing that lured children under docks and would drown them.

There was a spell that people could say before they went swimming that would keep Näkki away.

The magical words were Näkki maalle minä veteen, älä tule ottamaan

(näkki to the land, me into the water, do not dare to take me)

And when a person rises up from the water, they would say minä male, näkki veteran (me to the land, näkki back into the water).

Otso

Otso is the king of the Forest.

This bear spirit was known as a friend, brother, uncle, or even forest cousin.

In some parts of Finland, the bear sprite was even thought to be a person who fled into the woods and was transformed into a bear.

Tonttu

The Tonttu are small and childlike. They are usually seen around Christmastime, often wearing a red tunic and a pointed red hat topped with a sleigh bell. They keep a close eye on children before Christmas and will report any misbehavior to Santa Claus, with sorry consequences for kids expecting presents.

Tonttu are invisible or discrete and usually good-natured. They are trusted by humans as the guardian spirits of their homes and buildings. They must be respected and provided with food (they are fond of porridge and soup).

The Water Spirits and Coastal Creatures

The waters of Finland hold a rich tapestry of mythical creatures and spirits, adding to the mysterious allure of its lakes and coastline.

Ahti

Ahti is the powerful ruler of the waters and commands a kingdom teeming with fish and other aquatic beings. Legend has it that he holds great influence over the waters, controlling their tides and currents.

Näkki,

Näkki is a mischievous water spirit and is known for his ability to enchant unsuspecting victims with his captivating music. Some tales warn of Näkki luring people to their deaths by leading them into deep waters, where they meet their unfortunate demise.

Along the Finnish coastline, mermaids known as Näkki are said to dwell beneath the waves. With their seductive songs, the legend goes that those who fall under their spell are often unable to resist their enchanting melodies and become trapped in an underwater world from which they may never return.  

Gnome Encounter

From user alienconspiracy

Does anyone else have a gnome story?

Ok, so here’s my gnome story.

When I was a kid, we would get together with my cousins a few times a year. They would either come to stay with us for a few days, or we would stay at their house for a few days.

My oldest cousin is a year older than me, and my other cousin is a year younger. The gnome story took place at their house.

I can’t remember exactly how old I was at the time but somewhere between 4-6ish. So me and my older cousin were sleeping in her room when I was awakened by whispering.

She had a nightlight next to her dollhouse, so I could see a little bit in her room.

When I looked around to see where the whispering was coming from, I saw what looked like gnomes.

I was absolutely terrified, so I woke my cousin up to tell her. She told me to ignore them and not even look at them, and then she went back to sleep.

I was scared out of my mind and hid under the blanket until the sun came up. I asked her about them again the next day. She told me that she only sees them once in a while, but my other cousin saw them frequently.

I don’t think we ever really talked about them again, but I definitely remember being afraid of their house at night after that.

I absolutely would not use the bathroom during the night there because I was so afraid of seeing them again.

I know most people aren’t going to believe this story, and that’s ok; I wouldn’t have believed it myself had I not seen them. Believe it or not, I definitely know what I saw.

Finnish Mythical Monsters & Creatures

We hope you enjoyed this surface-level look at some of the Finnish Myths and creatures. 

Finnish Folklore is filled with a number of mysterious creatures, such as tree spirits, nature spirits, elf-like creatures, and earth spirits.

Let us know which one is your favorite in the comments.

Sources used for this episode: 

Finland.Fi

The Culture trip.com

Demonic paradise wiki

Folklore.usc.edu

Finish Mythology illustrated

Medium