Modern Finnish paganism, also known asFinnish neopaganism or theFinnish native faith (Finnish:Suomenusko: "Finnish Belief / Belief of Finland"), is thecontemporary revival ofFinnish paganism, the pre-Christianpolytheisticethnic religion of theFinns. A precursor movement was theUkonusko ("Ukko's Faith", revolving around the godUkko) of the early 20th century. The main problem in the revival of Finnish paganism is the nature of pre-Christian Finnish culture, which relied on oral tradition which may be subject to change over time.[1] The primary sources concerning Finnish native culture are written by latter-era Christians.
There are two main organisations of the religion, the "Association of Finnish Native Religion" (Suomalaisen kansanuskon yhdistys ry) based inHelsinki and officially registered since 2002,[2] and the "Pole Star Association" (Taivaannaula ry) headquartered inTurku with branches in many cities, founded and officially registered in 2007.[3] The Association of Finnish Native Religion also caters toKarelians[4] and is a member of theUralic Communion.[5]
According toTilastokeskus, approximately 60 individuals are documented as adherents of Finnish neopaganism. However, this figure apparently reflects only those formally associated with a specific organization, and the actual number of practitioners is significantly higher.[6][7] For example Iiro Arola of Helsinki University theological faculty estimated there is a higher amount of adherent by several orders of magnitude, about a thousand neopagans. Similar number was given by theologist Tom Sjöblom, according to whom a neopagan mailing list in 2000 had up to a thousand members. It might be further underreported: some neopagans do not identify as adhering to "Suomenusko", which has ethnonationalist connotation (comparable toOdinism) and may not fully encapsulate people of Karelian origin, who have distinct spiritual and cultural practices.[8][9][10] They may self-identify as adherents ofVäenusko or "Väki-belief".[11]
Pagan beliefs, traditions and myths survived for a long time side by side with official Lutheranism in EasternFinland and inKarelia, at least until the first part of the 20th century.[12] The first efforts of recovery of ancient mythology were carried out to enrich national Finnish culture.[13][14]
Nature worship, respect for traditions, and equality are typical features of the Neopagan movement. The Finnish native religion can be defined as "ethno-pagan", as it is related to national consciousness and identity.[15] Finnish native religion followers do not necessarily consider themselves "Neopagans" or identify with new religions, such asWicca.[16]
They emphasise love for the motherland as a key content of a balanced relationship of humans with nature, old and new generations, as well as individual and community. The Finnish native faith believers hold sacred many unspoiled natural places, woods, springs and rocks.[17] They consider thenuminous presence of the gods, the ancestors and the spirits, as pervading the natural sites and environments (hiisi).
In 2013 the Taivaannaula launched a national project on Finnish holy places and sites in order to increase awareness and protection.[18] In 2014Karhun kansa (People of the Bear) was officially registered as an organised religious community, becoming the first neopagan association given such status in Finland. The status brings the authority for example to marry, bury and give names.[19]
The Finnish native religion ispolytheistic, with a pantheon of many deities worshipped:[20]
The religion also includes an element ofancestor worship. For Finnish native religion adherents, the afterlife is a place calledTuonela, and it is a place where several different deities live, includingTuoni.
Various traditional festivals are followed, includingHela, a festival celebrating the coming of spring and the new growing season,Juhannus orUkon juhla, the midsummer festival,Kekri, a celebration of harvest and the ancestors, andJoulu, the midwinter festival.
Some Finnish Neopagans visit sacred forests, where wooden god-images or sacred stones can sometimes be found. Some celebrate the circling of the year at certain dates, for example by burning bonfires, dancing, sacrificing, or making other kinds of rituals. One ritual, which is also an authentic practice of the ancestors, is to drink a toast for the thunder godUkko at the midsummer festival (Finnish:Ukon juhla).[21]
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