Stories From The North: Wheel Of The Year

Except for Ukonvakat and the Day of the Bear, people did not celebrate any particular deity in these old festivals. Nature itself was considered divine and was worshipped. Hela marked the time when nature awakened from its slumber. Midsummer celebrated nature in full bloom, followed by Uutisleivän päivä, when people honored nature's abundance.
Kekri was the harvest festival, while the winter solstice represented a time when nature went into hibernation. During Nuutti and Kyntteli, people began to look for signs of spring.

Transcript

Hello friends! In today's episode I'm going to show you some stories about Finnish gods and goddesses and old festivals that people used to celebrate back here. Enjoy! Main Finnish gods and goddesses and the wheel of the year. Forest. Mielikki is the goddess of the forest, Hunt, Material and spiritual wealth and abundance. Mielikki is associated with summer and autumn. She is also associated with beauty and healing. Tapio is the god of hunt, Woodlands and the forest animals. Tapio is associated with winter and springtime. People worshipped the bear as a god. It was believed that bears were related to humans. Karhu, The bear, Is a great witch and a shaman. Karhu did not have a human form but appeared in the form of a bear. In some stories it is Mielikki who creates the bear. She can also transform into a bear and even ride a bear. Tapio can also transform into a bear. Earth. Goddess of the earth is Akka. She was also known as Rauni, Originating from Swedish word rön, Meaning roven. Akka is the soil, The hay, The grass and the goddess of growth and harvest. Air. Ukko is the god of thunder, Sky and the rain. He is the god of community, God of human relationships, Fertility, Order and communication. Ukko was honored during a summer festival called Ukonvakat. An older god of the air was called Ilmo and he had a daughter, Ilmatar. Water. Vellamo is the Finnish goddess of the sea, Lakes, Rivers and all water areas. She is the protector of fishermen and sailors. Vellamo rules the winds, Sea currents, Waves and storms. Vellamo's spouse is Ahti who rules the same areas. Both are deities of sea life and protectors of water animals. Both Vellamo and Ahti can transform themselves into any water bird, Seals and any fish. Fire. Panu is the spirit of fire. Female spirits of fire are called panuttaret. Sun and moon. Päivätar is the goddess of the sun and the day. Kuutar, Her sister, Is the goddess of the moon and the night. They are sometimes referred as the goddesses of fate. Witchcraft. Louhi, Also known as Loviatar, Is the goddess of witchcraft and shamanism. The Finnish expression Langetalloveen expresses the moment when a shaman falls into trance. It is possible that Loviatar was originally goddess of the moon. Loviatar is associated with night and winter. Worldview. In the old worldview, It was believed that the world was composed of three layers. The upper layer, Called Ylinen, Was home of the highest spirits, Including Ukko, The thunder god, The bear god, Päivätar, The Sankares, Kuutar, The Muukades and other deities of the air. The middle world, Known as Keskinen, Was where humans and animals lived. This is our world, And it is also where the vacuum of the forest, The vacuum of water and the vacuum of fire resided. Finally, There was the underworld, Known as Ylinen, Which was the realm of spirits and the dead. Interpretations vary. Some believed that the dead lived there permanently, While shamanistic interpretations suggest that the spirits in Ylinen awaited their time for rebirth. In Finnish folklore, The exact location of Ylinen varies. It is described as being underground, Inside a mountain, Or far away to the north. Regardless of its specific location, A common theme is that many rivers lead to Ylinen. Ylinen was widely connected with witchcraft and magic, For Ylinen holds the knowledge of the previous generations. These three layers were not necessarily viewed as physical places, But rather as metaphysical concepts, Invisible to humans. They represent our consciousness. Keskinen embodies day consciousness, While Ylinen and Alinen represent the subconsciousness. Wheel of the year. With the exception of Ukonmakat and the Day of the Bear, People did not celebrate any particular deity in these old festivals. Nature itself was considered divine and was worshipped. Helmak the time when nature awakened from its slumber. Midsummer celebrated nature in full bloom, Followed by Uutisleivänpäivä, When people honored nature's abundance. Kekri was the harvest festival, While the winter solstice represented the time when nature went into hibernation. During Nuutti and Kyntteli, People began to look for signs of spring. Kyntteli, February 1st. Kyntteli was the Finnish equivalent of imbok or candle mass, Introduced by Catholics in the 12th century. Matopäivä between March 19th and 21st, Day of the Snakes. This spring equinox festival marked the awakening of the earth goddess Akka from her sleep, And the snakes, Having emerged from hibernation, Danced in her honor. Pääsiäinen, Easter between April 3rd and 5th. Traditionally in northern and central Europe, Easter has been a particularly powerful time for witches. In Finland, Especially during the tween days, Such as the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, This period was believed to be particularly magical and infused with great Väki power. Witches were thought to be at the height of their abilities during this time. Hela, May 1st. Hela was the May Day festival, Celebrating the arrival of spring and summer. Ukonmakat, Juhannus-Mittumaari between June 20th and 22nd. A beloved holiday has many names. Ukonmakat was a celebration dedicated to Ukko, The god of thunder and fertility. There was not a set date for Ukonmakat. People could celebrate it as early as the end of May, If the weather was favorable, But most celebrated around the summer solstice. Midsummer, In Finnish known as Juhannus and Mittumaari, In the old Finnish calendar took place on the 24th of July. Based on the older Julian calendar, In modern Finland, Juhannus occurs on the Saturday that is closest to the date of summer solstice and is recognized as a national holiday. Karhumpäivä, Day of the Bear, On July 13th. Karhumpäivä is now celebrated by many Finnish pagans and pagan organizations, To honor the bear as the king of the forest and as an ancient ancestor. Uutisleivänpäivä, The first harvest, August 1st. This day marked a time of abundance in nature, Celebrating the first harvest and the first harvest festival. Syyspäivä, Second harvest, September 1st. Celebrated in the beginning of autumn, This day marked the second harvest festival. Kekri, Third and the last harvest and day of the dead, Between October 30th and 1st of November. Kekri was the last and the biggest harvest festival, During which the spirits of deceased relatives were believed to visit the living. This festival didn't have a fixed date, Each family celebrated it when they chose, Typically between October and November. In modern Finland, All Saints Day is celebrated on November 1st, And those who celebrate Kekri usually celebrate it between the 30th and 31st of October. Kekri was the biggest celebration of the year, Serving as the old new year. The word Kekri refers to a wheel, Symbolizing the turning point of the year. Jakko-aika, The dividing time, October 28th between November 10th. This period was known for the movement of evil spirits, Similar to the wild hunt. Finland once followed the Julian calendar, Which is about 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar we use today. As a result, There were some extra days at the end of the year that were not officially recognized in the calendar and thus did not officially exist. These non-existent days were collectively referred to as Jakko-aika, Dividing time, And it lasted roughly from Simo, Day of Saint Simon on October 28th to Martti, Day of Saint Martin on November 10th. The Halvipäivä, Winter solstice between December 21st and 22nd. The winter solstice marked the longest night of the year, When the days began to grow longer and the return of the sun approached. Joulu, Christmas between December 24th and 25th. Christmas, A Christian holiday, Did not really arrive in Finland until the 18th century. The name of the holiday comes from the Swedish word jul. Most Finnish Christmas traditions have their roots in the Kekri festival. During a time when Christian and pagan beliefs were blended, These two days were seen as particularly magical, Making them good occasions for performing spells. Tahvanus slash Tapani, December 26th. Tapani was the day of the horses. Tahvanus, Also known as Tapani, Was the spirit protector of horses. And finally Nultti slash Nultimpäivä, January 13th. Nultti marked the end of the Christmas season. Community celebrated Nultti by organizing dances and feasts.