Ancient ritual sites in Finland

[@aaronstavern]

BECOME A MEMBER OF MY CHANNEL: kzbin.info/door/FsUSUN1wbrFcw5KRWNtw1Ajoin

[@VanaheimrUllr]

Forest finn in Norway here. I cannot stand cities anymore actually. Lived the last 10 years on the edge of civilisation, even outside of civ., two years in a cabin in the woods, without water/electricity grid. Now, 500m to nearest neighbour, forests, mountains, lakes, rivers and creeks in every direction, just like I want it. Great video as usual btw, nice and easy way to learn about my ancestry!

[@aaronstavern]

From 5:22 for about 30 seconds no content shows up on screen, apologies, had a mini video to play there but for some reason couldn't get it to work on the editing software

[@Gibbetoo]

your narration covers it up, i almost didn't notice it.

[@lyrigageforge3259]

Hey thanks, kiitos - you didn't forget this topic. :) Nice video mate.

[@asemicwriter]

Thanks for making these videos. I'm half Finnish (from Minnesota) and feel close to nature and you are teaching me about my ancestor's ways. I plan on visiting Suomi someday.

[@limitet4574]

Can you speak finnish by any chance? Just curious

[@asemicwriter]

@@limitet4574 I know a few phrases and words. Yksi olut kiitos. Missa on vessa? Minä rakastan sinua.

[@limitet4574]

@@asemicwriter apparently the most important also.

[@erikafinland2162]

It would be great if you come to visit 😊 You are warmly welcome 💗

[@xmagx]

Me too!

[@realtsarbomba]

Word "Uhrilehto" was/is used for those sacred wooden islands in the middle of the fields and even in forests sometimes fenced around. Basically any sacred little patch of land used for sacrifices could've been called as "Uhrilehto."

[@SiiriCressey]

Thank you so much for this series. As a Finnish-American, this is one of the few ways I have to learn about some of my ancestor's deep history.

[@end0skeleton404]

Same. Ive been reconnecting with family who are all tied to the same family who came here in the 1880s. Its only taken 22 years to start finding cousins. One still owns the land our ancestors obtained through the homestead act.

[@SiiriCressey]

@@end0skeleton404 Any in Finland?

[@end0skeleton404]

@@SiiriCressey not yet, I did ancestry DNA, theres a few on there but they havent been on in over a year.

[@AlTervo-u8y]

It's hard to describe to anyone the passion I've felt my entire life for the forest. I'm second generation Finn. Born and raised in the U.S.A. Raised in rural America but still too close to the city. I yearn for the day I have the opportunity to visit Finland. Thank you so much for all your videos.

[@emil4290]

In Lapland, there are old Sámi sacred stones called seita, which are still given coins by hikers. even though they are no longer really believed in, sacrificing to them may still be said to bring good luck and appease the spirit of the stone. And although Finns don't usually speak in this style, Lapland is an exception for some and it is said that Lapland is a state of mind.

[@internetexplorer1057]

Most plausible explanation for the cupstones are that they are maps of locations of houses a family owned. When placed on topographical maps the "cups" seem to align with ancient roads and river banks. Some iron age house foundations have been found under the places where the cups have landed on the modern maps.

[@theFINNISHmonster1]

I freaking love your videos! Especially these topics on finnish history and mythology. The background music you used to have also made the videos top notch.

[@lady00303]

I love this idea.. If I find my own piece of land to build a home someday.. I want to start this tradition again!!

[@attepietarila9950]

Your video about Pikisaari gave me a valuable source in my essay. I study English at the University of Oulu and I'm writing an article about place names and I would've never looked for the source that I found online without your video. So thanks, your videos are very educating and informative.

[@aaronstavern]

Damn! That's awesome! And cheers for watching! 🤟🏻

[@TheImaginaryCat]

This video was really timely for me personally. My gran died recently and trees have always been really sacred/important in my family and she had a few favorites around our cabin that has been passed down in our family for few generations now. Definitely going to look into this more but sounds like the perfect way to remember her would be to choose one of them. We come from further north so not sure if that would have made a difference in this particular tradition originally. Thak you for making such great content and greetings from Oulu

[@aaronstavern]

Very sorry to hear about your Gran. I went to Oulu library to get most of this info if it helps you!

[@TheImaginaryCat]

@@aaronstavern that is helpful! i will take a look there 😊 thank you!

[@barbaradaly9838]

A lovely video, Aaron. Very interesting and informative. Thanks Aaron for your time.

[@marja-leenapretzer2495]

Having grown up in Finland, I can relate and appreciate your videos.Kudos💯💜

[@kellylynn6328]

I love your videos ❤ I mostly enjoy listening to your voice and the wonderful stories of your land.

[@roykosonen1734]

I have been told that in East Karelia (what is now the Karelian Republic) it was traditional for cemeteries to be located on forested hilltops. If you were traveling through that region and you saw a hill in the midst of treeless farmland, and the summit of the hill had a grove of ancient trees, then that's where the local cemetery was. Also it was traditional among the Orthodox Christian Karelians to erect small log houses over graves, or sometimes to place an overturned boat over graves.

[@valtteri2897]

I actually live in a historic Hiisi. The nearby industrial area is named hiisi after it, as is the original name for the local mansion. Also site for one of the largest bronze age burial sites found on Finland.

[@GOAT-rl2uq]

Having dug fairly deep into Itämerensuomalaisten Mytologia by Anna-Leena Siikala, it's funny to realize just how much overlap there is between the different northern European mythologies and folklore systems. All connected.

[@denni7173]

As usual, another brilliant video. Kiitos paljon! Is the footage in the park from the Oulu area? The Fall colours are beautiful.

[@chindit2009]

Hei, seriously..... you read minds! Love this one again!!!!!!! If you need help, in anyway what so ever in Kuusamo area give a heads up, greetz from Dutchie in Finland ⚓️

[@Make6fresleygaming]

There is a few cupstones (a pretty big ones too) next to the church in my home town in southern Finland

[@Pherdacil]

My family owns a piece of land in which there used to stand a sacred tree called "alttaripetäjä", "the altar tree". It grew next to the church altar already in 17th century, but it also had the reputation of being a pagan sacrificial site for hundreds of years. The tree was still standing in 1950's and it was visited by many people, although the church and the surrounding village was long gone. Unfortunately, after my grandfather's passing, my grandmother married a man that destroyed the tree in the 50's. When I was a child, you could still see the remains of the tree in the forest. Now the area has been protected and many archaeological excavations have been done there. Besides its orthodox legacy, many folktales talk about how the place was used to worship Ukko and celebrate 'Ukonvakat'. I always feel a strong presence and connection with the nature/spirits when I go to that forest.

[@dasarath5779]

great video!

[@HC-Alfred]

I feel lucky to live in satakunta. i really like history and one of hobby is metal detecting. My birthtown contains long history trough the stone age to iron age and medieval times. The village where i live now is literally between rich bronze age and iron age settlements

[@Not.Geno.]

This makes me wanna go into my forest and hug a tree, maybe two or more.

[@Mustanaamio7]

Finland is officially considered to be a "christian country" but in reality most Finnish people don't really care about christian god that much. Basically every Finn respects and almost worship forests and this fact still reminds us of our paganic roots. Christian invaders tried to wipe out our ancient religion but fortunately some of these ancients stones, trees, and groves survived to this day.

[@jokemon9547]

Not being strongly Christian is mainly a modern thing and before, people were Christians even if they didn't express it strongly to others. And historically, Christianity in Finland synchronized with the native beliefs since the middle ages, meaning the old ways combined with the new leading to, for example, oral poems mentioning both Finnish mythological and Christian figures. And Christianity had made it's way to Finland before the supposed first Swedish crusade, so Swedish invaders would be more accurate.

[@andromedaparadox8112]

We can do this! Let us be a”pagan country” again!✊🏻

[@TheImaginaryCat]

I always found it funny even as a kid that even though my older family members (grandparents and greatgrandparents) claimed to be really christian they still held on to many customs and beliefs that clearly had more pagan roots. To me these seemed contradictory but to them it was like two belief structures living parallel to each other. maybe that kind of thinking was more common in their age group?

[@herrakaarme]

Too bad ancient trees wouldn't be around anymore, but fortunately stones still stand, unless they were broken, buried, or used in construction. Sometimes I think it's a pity Finland had such a low population that it wasn't possible to build the kind of grand monuments many other countries have, but there are still reminders of the eras long gone if you know where to look. Thank you for spreading the knowledge!

[@tonttu7979]

Some of those trees are bound to still be standing. Not from the bronze age of course, but paganism in finland completely died out pretty recently. There used to be little pockets of families who still practised some form of animistic paganism till the late 1900s, and still probably some people who uphold some traditions in tandom with christianity, like throwing löyly for the tonttu after leaving the sauna, or knocking on trees before cutting them down to let the spirit move trees. Also in sweden there were still some completely pagan "forest finns" till the 1960s if i remember the date right

[@chindit2009]

They are still here but need to know the places!

[@karihamalainen9622]

Kuusamo to Lappland are forest over 500 years or more old.

[@lyrigageforge3259]

Some of those places are still there. I'd recommend reading the book called Puiden Kansa / Tree People depending on which language anyone prefers.

[@f0n0la]

If there had been monuments, they would've been torn down by now by the christian reformation. It's harder for your opressors to take down the actual object of worship (the nature) but damn we sure are trying our best.

[@SuperAmazingAnt]

Where is that spot with stones around 8 minutes ?

[@karihamalainen9622]

TnXX Again about these article! Do You know how hard is to make cupstones? Not even modern hammer and chisle(taltta tai piikki) Special blackshmits can propely warmtreatment and soften tools which can make hole in stone. Not too hard and not too soft is hard to make because heat treeatment overlaps each other. You have to know austenite point(723 c but it varies)! Only experience in those time can can tell that. You have even to know which kind of adition minerals is in iron.

[@takanabe379]

Cool :))

[@joukosormunen3152]

Hiisi uskonnosta löydät lisää tietoa Sotkamon Hiidenportin kansallispuistosta. Perimätiedon mukaan on Hiiden piilopaikka. Lähden oppaaksi jos vinkki kiinnostaa🙏

[@samsonsilverhand5159]

How were ancient Finns farming corn, which originated in the Americas and didn't get to Europe until the 16th century?

[@Damn3dYank33]

You’re following “fake history.” The world’s true history was erased by the religions that want to rule mankind.

[@davestrasburg408]

A fascinating video. l am intrigued by Finland's ancient pre-Christian mythology. lnterestingly, a parallel exists with lsrael, where l live today; here are many sacred groves - mentioned in the Bible as Asherot - which the fanatics, later known as Pharisees, wanted destroyed. Neither the lsraelite proto-Jews, nor the Christians after them, nor the Muslims thereafter, succeeded in committing such a travesty, because most people, of all beliefs, were afraid!

[@eerokutale277]

Legends can last hundred or thousands of years, according to the stories Robin Hood lived in the Sherwood forest and helped the poor and the downtrodden, maybe the base of the legend is a pre-christian story of a benevolent spirit who dwells in the sacred grove. King Arthur and the sword in the stone, in my opinion the story is about casting bronze swords in stone molds.

[@MilenaAnnina]

Painu hiiteen! = Go to hell! (Hiisi--> Hiiteen) This must be the oldest curse word in Finland. Or maybe your last video about "jumala". We say Jumalauta! (can not be translated directly). I have pondered that for years. Does it mean jumala auta = god help us or opposite? Can someone help me with this one?

[@hurri7720]

Yes it's Jumala auta. I started to learn Finnish in Helsinki from say five years of age as I am a Swedish speaking Finn. And one afternoon in Kaivopuisto, a park in Helsinki, out with my cousin with our snow sledges some bigger guys came and kicked our sledges around shouting "jumalauta" and such. Getting home I had to ask my mother what kind of "lauta", which means board, and why they were annoyed about it. And yes a nice video and very nice pictures.

[@MilenaAnnina]

@@hurri7720 If Jumalauta really means "god help us", why do Finnish people always shout it out loud? Other curse words we might say even softly, but JUMALAUTA is something that has to come out LOUD.

[@hurri7720]

@@MilenaAnnina , good question, but on the other hand don't we shout "HELP" also LOUDLY. I don't think we will found a better explanation even if there was one long ago.

[@hurri7720]

@@pinkythemighty , not a bad suggestion.

[@MilenaAnnina]

@@pinkythemighty Yes! That helping part seems weird, but our language is so old that will this be eternal question?

[@polhokustaa4989]

Historical places have been destroyed with such effort that it is pure miracle there are even few left for us to enjoy today. Same goes with literature, everything burned down with churches.

[@CharlotteSimmons1]

You are like Runeberg.

[@kat8992]

My church is forest. I pray my Jumala (which was the name of our most important deity) in the name of Christ, His son. That’s the way it goes.

[@haraldthorson9153]

Why are we Finns always depicted as Asians on old race maps? I am from Karelia and have white skin, blue eyes and white blondish hair, how are we Asian!?

[@jokemon9547]

During the 19th century, race theorists categorized Finns as a part of the "Mongoloid" race due to the linguistic classification of Finnish as Uralic and not Indo-European like most of "white" Europe. This idea was largely phased out during the transition from the 19th to the 20th century though.

[@haraldthorson9153]

@@jokemon9547 So African Americans are actually Germanic because they speak English, a Germanic language? This makes no sense. Especially because Uralic is not an Asian language family it is EUROPEAN!

[@jokemon9547]

@@haraldthorson9153 That's what they did, no idea why. There also could have been some confusion between Finns and the Sami, particularly the ones that looked more "Asian". Finns migrating into the United States also faced racism during the late 1800s and early 1900s, where they were called slurs like "China Swedes" and there were bars and other establishment with signs saying "No Indians or Finns". It's also due to this discrimination and similar cultural aspect between Finns and Native Americans, that they got along quite well compared to other interactions with European settlers and there even exists a community of mixed Native-Finnish people called "Finndians". Now while the Uralic languages are today mostly spoken west of the Urals in Europe, it's still somewhat unknown whether it developed west or east to the Urals originally.

[@haraldthorson9153]

@@jokemon9547 Lol until the internet I never heard of all this. We are literally the Whites people of Europe. China Swedes? Come on, these people are coping.....