Mielikki

Template:Short description Template:For multi Template:Infobox deity Mielikki ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}) is the Finnish goddess of forests and the hunt. She is usually called {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Template:Lit.), though the epithet {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Template:Lit.) also exists. As the mistress, she is seen as the wife of Tapio and the mother of Tuulikki, Tellervo and Nyyrikki.

She was more important and prayed to more often than her husband Tapio.<ref name="sks"/> "Tapio" also appears as a name of Mielikki,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the feminized form "Tapiotar" appears as a name of Mielikki<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> as well as Tuometar and Hongatar, both sometimes called Tapio's daughter.

Name

Template:See also Her name is thought to have come from {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} 'to grow fond', as it was hoped she would grow fond of the hunter and give plenty of prey.<ref name="sks"/> According to Kaarle Krohn, the variant {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} comes from {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} 'gentle', while the variants {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} are all connected to the nectar ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) of the forest, mead. {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} would come from the word {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} 'fat'. The names {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} come from {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} 'wing', and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} from {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} 'precise'.<ref name="krohn"/>

Krohn also theorized that he variants such as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} would come from Swedish {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} 'kingdom of heaven', and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} from Saint Nicetas the Goth. He also thought most variants beginning with K and H to come from Saint Hubert of Liège, though pointing out that {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} also means an eagle owl.<ref name="krohn"/> According to Samuli Paulaharju, the Siberian jay was called the mistress of the forest in Kuhmo, for it was known to be "the oldest bird".<ref name="harva"/>

Names such as Nylgysä, Nylkys, Nyrkiö, Nyrkkiö and Nyrkytär are used for Tapio's wife in Karelia. It has been connected to {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} 'to skin'. In 1551, Mikael Agricola wrote that {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} brought squirrels from the forest. It sounds similar to Tuulikki/Myyrikki/Tyytikki, who is called Tapio's daughter and the mother of squirrels. Karelian runic songs further mention Nyyrikki as a son of Tapio, despite the feminine form of the name. Kaarle Krohn thought it came from Jyrki (Saint George), Uno Harva thought it could be an old forgotten name for the squirrel,<ref name="harva"/> while Martti Haavio connected the name to Saint Bartholomew who was skinned and crucified.<ref name="haavio">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="sks"/>

The Mistress of the Forest is sometimes called Annikki. This name was influenced by Saint Anne.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In tradition

In 1789, Christfried Ganander mentioned her as Tapiotar, the great mother of feathers ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and mentions Tapio as a name of the forest goddess as well.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} is synonymous with 'forest', the name Tapio has been seen as a personified forest, as king of the forest Tapio if male and as the forest mistress if female.<ref name="harva"/>

In runic songs, she is described as having had a role in the creation of the bear: she brought up the bear under a spruce. She is, along with her daughters, also asked to dull a bear's claws so it wouldn't hurt cattle.<ref name="wrap">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Hunting spells in runic songs feminize and eroticize the forest, asking the forest and its mistress to grow fond of the hunter and become wet for him ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}). Mielikki was especially prayed to when hunting rabbits and birds, called {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Template:Lit.).<ref name="sks"/>

She is sometimes described with the colour blue, such as having a blue cape or socks. In Central Finland, the mother or daughter-in-law of the forest is also said to have wings, even blue wings, as she appears as a ruler of wasps. In a Ladoga Karelian song, she as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} is asked to bake a fatty ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) and nectariferous cake. In another song, this was misinterpreted as Kuutar baking.<ref name="krohn">Template:Cite book</ref>

Mielikki displays one of the features of a {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ('forest haltija'), as forest haltijas could appear at hunters' camping sites: if she was dressed beautifully in gold, it meant the forest mistress was going to be generous with plenty of prey. If she was ugly, with arm-wrappings, rings and headwear made of twigs, she would not give much prey.<ref name="sks"/><ref name="wrap"/>

File:Tapionpöytä 1.jpg

lang}} ('Tapio's table').

The Forest Finns knew {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} 'Mistress of the Forest' as a haltija or a goddess who lived beneath a spruce. She was sacrificed to at a spruce growing without the treetop (called {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Lit. by Forest Finns<ref name="harva"/> and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Template:Lit. in Finland).<ref name="sks">Template:Cite book</ref> The Finns of Northern Sweden used the term {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Template:Lit.) to refer to the skogsrå.<ref name="krohn"/>

Mielikki is known as a skillful healer who heals the paws of animals who have escaped traps, helps chicks that have fallen from their nests and treats the wounds of wood grouses after their mating displays. She knows well the healing herbs and will also help humans if they know well enough to ask her for it.Template:Citation needed

In the Kalevala

In the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic based on Finnish and Karelian folklore, the hero Lemminkäinen offers her and Tapio prayers, gold and silver so he can catch the Hiisi elk. In another passage, Mielikki is asked to protect cattle grazing in the forest.

Epithets

Epithet	Epithet meaning	Regions
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Mistress of the Forest'	Central Finland, Kainuu, Karelian Isthmus, Ladoga Karelia, Lapland, North Karelia, North Ostrobothnia, North Savo, White Karelia
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Mielus, Mistress of Mehtola'	Ostrobothnia, South Savo
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Kuuriitar, king of the forest'	North Karelia
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Mielikki, mistress of rocks'	White Karelia
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Mielikki, girl of the forest'	White Karelia
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Mielikki, mother of forest'	White Karelia
Mielikki metän eläjä<ref name="eläjä"/>	'Mielikki, one who lives in the forest'	White Karelia
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Mielikki, daughter-in-law of the forest'	North Karelia, White Karelia
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Mielikki, girl of little forest'	White Karelia
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Mielikki, the golden one of the forest'	White Karelia
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Mielikki, nectariferous mistress'	North Karelia
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Mielikki beautiful maiden'	Uusimaa
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Tapiolan tarkka akka<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Tarkka Tapion vaimo<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Precise wife of Tapiola' 'Precise wife of Tapio'	Central Finland, Kainuu, Karelian Isthmus, Ostrobothnia, South Savo, White Karelia
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Old wife of Tapiola'	North Ostrobothnia
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Akka Tapion<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Tapio's wife'	Kainuu, Karelian Isthmus, North Savo
Tapiolan tarkka neito<ref name="meht"/>	'Precise maiden of Tapiola'	Ostrobothnia, South Savo
Tarkka Tapion tytti<ref name="tytti"/>	'Precise girl of Tapio'	White Karelia
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Annikki, Tapio's wife'	Olonets Karelia
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Annikki, mistress of an abandoned swidden'	South Savo
Musta sukka, suon emäntä<ref name="aho"/>	'Black sock, mistress of a swamp'	South Savo
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Salokorven vaimo kaunis<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Satakaaren kaunis vaimo<ref name="eläjä">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Beautiful woman/wife of the secret arch' 'Beautiful woman/wife of deep forest wilderness' 'Beautiful woman/wife of a hundred archs'	White Karelia
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Generous mistress of the forest'	North Karelia, Ostrobothnia
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Mind of the forest Mikikki'	Kainuu
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Gold of the forest, Miss Mielis'	Kainuu
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Gold-chested forest flower'	White Karelia
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Little girlie girl of the forest'	White Karelia
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Golden apple of the wilderness'	Ladoga Karelia
Metsän muori muotokaunis<ref name="muori"/>	'Beautiful-formed old mother of the forest'	Kainuu
Metän piika pikkuruinen<ref name="metinen"/>	'Tiny maid of the forest'	Kainuu, North Karelia
Vanhin vaimoloista<ref name="vanhin"/>	'Oldest of women'	White Karelia
Eläjistä ensimmäini<ref name="vanhin"/>	'First of the living'	White Karelia
Pesömättä puhtukaini<ref name="vanhin"/>	'Clean without washing'	White Karelia
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	'Girl of the north, crooked miss'	White Karelia

In contemporary culture

The Mielikki Mons, a mountain on Venus, is named after her.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

External links

• Original quotes from Kalevala regarding Mielikki translated to English
• Mielikki information and links from the Finndex.