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Finnish mythology

Finnish mythology survived as oral tradition well into the 18th century.

Based on animistic beliefs, the Finnish uphold one of the very few primitive religious traditions in Western Europe, albeit in a secularized form. The rites of the hunt (Peijainen[?]), harvest and sowing etc. may well be held as social events, but the spiritual undercurrent is not totally absent. Although the gradual influence of surrounding cultures raised the significance of the skygod in a monolatristic manner, he was originally just a naturespirit like all the others. The one whose name was never uttered by the Finns was the spirit whose carnal form is known in English as bear.

Finnish legendary heroes, gods and spirits:

Finnish mythical places:

See also: Kalevala, Norse mythology

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