Introduction

Despite being a sparsely populated place, thick with forests and littered with lakes, Finland has been amazingly persistent and creative with its mythology.

For a mythology based on word-of-mouth tale-telling, Finland has better Godly documentation than some other places we could mention. The rambling epics of Väinämöinen, the Finnish folk hero, and the publishing of the Kalevala, the Finnish folk bible, give intriguing glimpses of a mythology centered around trees, animals, natural forces... and more trees.

Although fairly little-known outside Finland, Finnish myths were hugely inspiring to a certain Mr Tolkien. JRR’s epic legendarium the Silmarillion contains many elements rooted in tales found within the Kalevala.

The Gods of Finland, although thin on the ground, are firm folksy favorites with spinners of spooky tales. When Christianity came and spread, Finnish mythology didn’t turn a hair. It just mixed the two together with extra tales around the fire.

Also, at no extra charge, we include the Gods of Sámi Mythology.

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Options

Introduction to Finnish Mythology and Folklore.

Use our Godbrowser™ to explore the Gods of Finland.

View the Finnish pantheon. Family trees coming soon!

Consult Godchecker’s complete alphabetical list of Finnish god and goddess names.

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