Mermaids In Finnish Mythology

Stories told about the merfolk exist everywhere in the world, Finland is no exception. The worship of water in Finland already began after the last ice age when the groups of hunter-gatherers left sacrificial gifts for the water spirits.

The Finnish mermaid lore includes interesting and whimsical characters such as the beautiful Vellamo, the goddess of the sea. Her spouse, Ahti the sea god and their sons and daughters. The underwater world reflected the human world and it was a mirror of the old agricultural society. There were farms underwater, with underwater horses, cows, pigs and other animals.

Vellamo was a mighty goddess who could create storms, and giant waves and she was beloved and worshipped by sailors who asked her to give them good and smooth winds. Ahti was the ruler of seals, fish and other animals and he could lead fish to the fishermen's nets.

Mermaid stories in Finland are rather different in western and eastern parts, with eastern Finland having more Slavic influences in storytelling. Stories of mermen are more common in the Eastern Finnish story telling tradition, whereas mermaids are more common in lore told in western Finland.

Often the stories about mermaids were told by sailors and they first spread in seaside towns and harbours. We can find all kinds of water spirits and mermaids in Finnish folklore. Often these are solitary creatures who guard specific water areas, such as clear desert ponds, lakes, rivers and fountains.

In this course, you will learn about the history of mermaids in Finnish art history and culture and even how you can spot mermaid artworks in your next trip to Helsinki.

One of the most well-known Finnish water spirits is Näkki, the water demon. For centuries parents have warned their children, not to swim too deep, otherwise Näkki could catch them. Now you can learn the origins of Näkki and other Finnish mermaids, sea gods and sea monsters.

Adventure awaits.