Sami shamanism Animal spirits[edit] Aside from the Bear Cult, there are other animal spirits such as the Haldi who watched over nature. Some Sami people had a thunder god called Tiermes, sometimes called Horagalles. The forest-god of the Sami, Laib olmai ruled over all forest animals, which were regarded as his herds, and luck in hunting, or the reverse, depended on his good will. Sieidis[edit] In the landscape throughout Northern Scandinavia, one can find sieidis, places that have unusual land forms different from the surrounding countryside. The clan and family gods of the Sami are known in different parts of Sapmi under the name of Seita, Sieidis or Storjunkare. Noaide[edit] A noaidi was a mediator between the human world and saivo, the underworld, for the least of community problems. Elements of Norse mythology as well as Christian ideas are found in the later practices. Sámi peoples in northern Scandinavia today belong to Christian churches. Ancestors[edit] Deities[edit] See also[edit]
Finnish Mythology Finnish Mythology in Context Finnish mythology, like that of many other cultures, tells the stories of gods and legendary heroes . Most of the myths date from pre-Christian times and were passed from generation to generation by storytellers. A work called the Kalevala (pronounced kah-luh-VAH-luh), which the Finnish people consider their national epic, contains many of the legends. The myths of the Kalevala reflect several unique aspects of Finnish culture. Core Deities and Characters The word Kakvala, which means “land of the descendants of Kaleva,” is an imaginary region associated with Finland. Vainamoinen (pronounced vye-nuh-MOY-nen), one of the heroes in the Kakvala, is a wise old seer who can see the future and work magic through the songs that he sings. Vainamoinen and Lemminkainen have certain experiences and goals in common. A number of other figures become involved with these leading characters. Major Myths Vainamoinen plans to marry Aino, and her parents encourage the match.
Baltic mythology Baltic mythology is the body of mythology of the Baltic people stemming from Baltic paganism and continuing after Christianization and into Baltic folklore. Baltic mythology ultimately stems from Proto-Indo-European mythology. The Baltic region was one of the last regions of Europe to be Christianized, a process that occurred from the 15th century and into at least a century after. While no native texts survive detailing the mythology of the Baltic peoples during the pagan period, knowledge of the mythology may be gained from Russian and German chronicles, later folklore, by way of etymology, and comparative mythology.[1] While the early chronicles (14th and 15th century) were largely the product of missionaries who sought to eradicate the native paganism of the Baltic peoples, rich material survives into Baltic folklore. See also[edit] Notes[edit] References[edit]
Kalevala 19th-century work of epic poetry The Kalevala (Finnish: Kalevala, IPA: [ˈkɑleʋɑlɑ]) is a 19th-century work of epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Karelian and Finnish oral folklore and mythology,[1] telling an epic story about the Creation of the Earth, describing the controversies and retaliatory voyages between the peoples of the land of Kalevala called Väinölä and the land of Pohjola and their various protagonists and antagonists, as well as the construction and robbery of the epic mythical wealth-making machine Sampo.[2] The Kalevala is regarded as the national epic of Karelia and Finland[Note 1] and is one of the most significant works of Finnish literature with J. L. The first version of the Kalevala, called the Old Kalevala, was published in 1835, consisting of 12,078 verses. Collection and compilation[edit] Elias Lönnrot[edit] Elias Lönnrot (9 April 1802 – 19 March 1884) was a physician, botanist, linguist, and poet. Poetry[edit] History[edit] Lönnrot's field trips[edit] J.
Finnic mythologies Finnic mythologies are the various mythologies of the Finnic peoples [nb 1], such as the Volga Finns, Baltic Finns, Permians, and Sami.[5] The mythologies of the Finno-Lappic speakers have some common aspects; the Sami people are deeply shamanistic, and these traits are present also in Finnish-Karelian mythology. Baltic Finnic mythologies are additionally related to shamanism in Siberia on one hand, and to Indo-European Baltic and Germanic mythologies on the other. The mythologies of the Baltic Finns, especially, were directly influenced by their Indo-European neighbors, the Scandinavians, the Slavs, and the Baltic peoples.[6] The Baltic Finns share some common religious and historical traditions that were transmitted orally via the art of ancient rune singing, estimated to be 2500–3000 years old.[7] Shamanism has been an important influence on the mythologies of most (but not all)[who?] Finnish[edit] J. Estonian[edit] Sami[edit] Main article: Sami religion Mordvin[edit] See also[edit]
Hulder Seductive forest creature found in Scandinavian folklore A hulder (or huldra) is a seductive forest creature found in Scandinavian folklore. Her name derives from a root meaning "covered" or "secret".[1] In Norwegian folklore, she is known as huldra ("the [archetypal] hulder", though folklore presupposes that there is an entire Hulder race and not just a single individual). She is known as the skogsrå "forest spirit" or Tallemaja "pine tree Mary" in Swedish folklore, and ulda in Sámi folklore. The word hulder is only used of a female; a "male hulder" is called a huldrekall and also appears in Norwegian folklore. Though described as beautiful, the huldra is noted for having a distinctive inhuman feature—an animal's tail (usually a cow's or a fox's) and/or a back resembling a hollowed-out tree. Folklore[edit] More information can be found in the collected Norwegian folktales of Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe. Relations with humans[edit] A hulder is talking with a charcoal burner.
Latvian mythology The seasons, festivals and numerous deities of historic Latvian mythology reflected the essential agrarian nature of Latvian tribal life. Much of its symbolism (an example is the pērkonkrusts or thunder cross) is ancient. These seasons and festivals are still celebrated today—for example, Jāņi is a national holiday.[1] History[edit] Territories of Baltic tribes at beginning of the 13th century. There are few reports of Baltic tribes, the ancestors of modern Latvians, and their mythology until Christianization in the 13th century. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it was assumed that Baltic tribes were originally one nation and thus had the same deities.[4] Early authors trying to reconstruct a Latvian pantheon using data from neighboring regions. At the same time some pagan rites were still practiced. Although research in Latvia could only restart in the 1980s,[2] the 1970s saw the emergence of a folklore movement with members which could be described as neopagans. Celestial deities[edit]
Huldra – The Seductive Forest Beings of Norse Mythology - Symbol Sage Affiliate Disclosures The huldra or hulder may sound rugged and masculine but they are actually exceptionally fair female mystical beings in Norse mythology. In fact, through their varying myths and legends across all Nordic and Germanic people, the Huldra can be credited as the origin of many subsequent mythological creatures such as elves, witches, the Slavic samodiva, and others. Who are the Huldra? The huldra are beautiful and seductive forest beings in Germanic and Scandinavian folklore. Their name generally translates as “covered” or “secret”, likely because the huldra usually tryed to hide their mystical nature from people. Other names for the huldra include skogsrå or “forest spirit”, tallemaja or “pine tree Mary” in Sweden, and ulda in Sámi (Lapplander) folklore. However, the huldrekall are very different from the female forest dwellers. What Type of Beings are the Huldra? Most Norse folklore describes the huldra as a type of rå – nature’s keepers or wardens in Norse mythology.
Polish mythology Polish mythology comprises beliefs and myths of ancient Poland, including witchcraft and elements of Paganism. The Polish pantheon[edit] Major gods[edit] Other gods[edit] Polish supernatural beings[edit] Polish heroes[edit] Polish folk magic[edit] See also[edit] References[edit] External links[edit] Polish Gods and Goddesses Gallery Further reading[edit] Chrypinski, Anna, editor.