Finnish Animal Myths and Legends

Summary

Before the arrival of Christianity, early inhabitants of Finland practised animistic nature-based belief, where everything in nature had its own place and spirit. Some of the historical artefacts show that belief in the totem animals was strong as well. Learn about the history of ancient Finland and some of the intriguing animal myths. How the cat was created in the warmth of the sauna, how northern lights are created by the magical fox and how the moose carries the sun in its antlers. Some of these stories like the bear being landed from the starry skies can be traced as far as the stone age. These stories are dreamy and magical, but they also reflect the nordic nature and how people saw animals as companions and sometimes even as gods and goddesses. Learn about the myths related to some of the most important animals in mythology. How the swan was originally a man but was turned into a bird, and it was forbidden to kill swans because they had the soul of a human. How the giant moose almost destroyed an entire land.

Written and narrated by Finnish folklorist Niina Niskanen.