Finnish Mythology
Finnish Mythology
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Finnish mythology is a commonly applied description of the folklore of Finnish paganism, of which a modern revival is practiced by a small percentage of the Finnish people. Finnish mythology is the traditional belief system of the Finnish people, and it is closely related to the mythology of other Finno-Ugric peoples such as the Estonians and the Hungarians. Here are a few examples of famous myths from Finnish mythology:
The story of the creation of the world: According to Finnish mythology, the world was created by Ilmatar, a primal goddess of the air and the sky.
The story of Väinämöinen: Väinämöinen is a powerful and wise sorcerer in Finnish mythology, who is considered as one of the main characters of the Kalevala, a traditional epic poem of Finland. He is known for his wisdom and his role as a culture hero.
The story of Kullervo: Kullervo is a tragic hero of the Finnish mythology and is considered as one of the main characters of the Kalevala. He is known for his misfortune, his tragic fate and his power.
The story of Joukahainen: Joukahainen is a rival of Väinämöinen in the Kalevala, who is known for his arrogance and his defeat by Väinämöinen
The story of Lemminkäinen: Lemminkäinen is another character of the Kalevala, known for his romantic adventures and his quest to win the hand of the Maiden of the North.
These myths, along with others, are used by the Finnish people to explain the origins of their people and their customs and to reinforce their traditional beliefs and values. The Finnish traditional religion was a mixture of animism, nature worship, and ancestor worship.
