Trolls in Finnish Mythology

Trolls, goblins, underground folk. Mysterious fantastic creatures living in the forests, underground. Often very nasty but sometimes very useful to have around. This animated and richly illustrated video explains the place of trolls in Finnish mythology from the past to the present day.
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[@Anttimation]

Well my comic Trolled is now out. You can check it out here: FINLAND: holvi.com/shop/trolled/product/f78146e8320117c5a24eba83bd279a16/ US: www.amazon.com/Trolled-1-Antti-Palosaari/dp/952698210X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=trolled+1+comic&qid=1632297156&refinements=p_n_feature_nine_browse-bin%3A3291437011&rnid=3291435011&s=books&sr=1-1 EU: www.amazon.de/-/en/Antti-Palosaari/dp/952698210X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=gesteuerte+1+comic+dark+fantasy&qid=1632297186&qsid=257-0874500-1739650&rnid=1703609031&s=books&sr=1-1&sres=952698210X&srpt=ABIS_BOOK

[@Mitchery]

Are you a Troll?

[@Anttimation]

@@Mitchery it is my goal to become one.

[@herrakaarme]

Who would have guessed that once the World Wide Web was invented, all the trolls would come out of their ancient hiding places and become really active. And sure, if you try to follow a troll's path in the net, you'll probably go bonkers.

[@Anttimation]

They thought building churches would rid the land of trolls... Not that easy!

[@Sienisota]

The trolls have risen! Internet is their new forest!

[@donprovolone1425]

This channel is a goldmine ngl

[@Anttimation]

That's a great thing to see in my notifications first thing in the morning. Thanks!

[@metalmaniac123kill]

I love your art style as well as your storytelling. The videos are very informative. I would love to read your comic. I hope you find success as an artist.

[@Anttimation]

Thanks so much for the kind words!

[@elvisjackson3550]

From 0:00 to 0:03 is the description of human beings

[@hanbill]

if Seven Dwarfs from Snow White would have tail and more body hair + live underground, they would be pretty good looking trolls

[@Anttimation]

True.

[@oddis188]

Jälleen 6/5 pätkä. Ja piirrokset on näissä aina niin hyviä.🖤

[@Anttimation]

Kiitos taas kerran! :)

[@name9287]

I believe I was born into a family of trolls

[@Anttimation]

Greetings to the family then!

[@BrokenSofa]

Dude just found this channel and it's fuckin great. Need to learn more about our old ass lore

[@Anttimation]

Thanks! Yeah that's why I do this, and learn myself too when researching video scripts 👌

[@BrokenSofa]

@@Anttimation Like that old saying, you learn twice: once when you learn and once when you teach

[@fruktis3363]

I have heard they still live around Rovaniemi . But it might just be Swedish poopatalk 😂

[@fruktis3363]

Love your videos btw

[@Anttimation]

@@fruktis3363 Thanks! Hmm interesting, so people have lived to tell the tale... Might not always be the case.

[@fruktis3363]

@@Anttimation I have family living around Rovaniemi and as a kid i remember that we called one of our grandmother's brother for "Peikko" . Not sure if he was the real deal but close enough 😂

[@Anttimation]

@@fruktis3363 There must be a reason for the name, haha,

[@zapfsaeule2]

A wonderful new episode! Love it!!

[@Anttimation]

Thanks again!! :)

[@russelljameskangasiii5925]

My grandfather looks kinda like a troll

[@Anttimation]

Then you know where his roots are!

[@russelljameskangasiii5925]

@@Anttimation Hell yeah, my great great grandparents came to America from Finland. They were lumberjacks haha So they must have been forest folk

[@woodswitch23]

An pieceo of bread,butter,a glass of ale or mead.keep friends

[@mythologyandbeyond]

Very cool Vid and Illustrations!

[@pakilanparoni4839]

Great pictures and fun stuff. However, it is necessary to take a position on Antti's argument that Finland is not a Scandinavian country. I don’t think it’s that simple at all. So here’s some fact and reflection. Which Nordic countries, which Scandinavia? The Nordic countries, and Scandinavia, are understood in very different ways in different languages. In addition to the words Scandinavia and the Nordic countries, the Nordic countries have their own words, such as Norden and Pohjola, which partly mean the same area but whose geographical and cultural delimitation is difficult to define. The Nordic countries are understood to include Finland Sweden Norway Denmark and Iceland, but the region also includes the Faroe Islands. Non-European countries call the Nordic countries Scandinavia and it is often used within Europe as well. The cultural similarity of the Nordic countries, as well as the strongly interdependent state and political history of more than 1,000 years, give other European countries, and especially non-European countries, a good reason to interpret the whole region as Scandinavia. An example of Central European language may shed light on the matter: “Finland, like other Scandinavian countries, is greatly influenced ...” by Ernest von Weizsäcker, Institute for European Environmental Policy, Oil Post 1/1988. As was the case below, there are no Nordic equivalents in those languages, and the Nordic equivalents are not fully established everywhere. Scandinavia feels clearer in terms of English, French, apparently also Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, etc., from the common name of these five countries. It has happened that the purpose of the name has expanded as the name has changed from a purely geographical name to a geopolitical name. Interestingly, if one tries to find out how the earliest occurrences of Scandinavia from the 1st century have interpreted how scholars have interpreted the descriptions of Pliny, Ptolemy, Procopius, or Jordanes of the name area, one will find roughly similar variation in area definitions as in current practice. The countries that belong to or do not belong to Scandinavia therefore depend on where the world is looking at it, or whether it is looking at it from a cultural, historical, genetic, geographical or political point of view, for example. The more of these connecting attributes are found, the more difficult it becomes to detach a country from Scandinavia. If we look at the matter strictly geographically, it is stated that the northwestern part of Finland is in the region of the Scandinavian peninsula, and the easternmost part of Scandinavia is dominated by Russia. Historically, Finland belonged to the Kingdom of Sweden for centuries and was thus an integral part of Scandinavia. Early historically, the Sámi have inhabited the northern regions of Sweden, Norway and Finland, ie even before the birth of the northern states, the Sámi formed a co-cultural area that still exists there, as did the indigenous peoples living there. It can thus be said that the early and present cultural area of northern Scandinavia is not limited to Norwegian and Swedish soil but extends hundreds of kilometers east of it. Finns have inhabited large parts of the forest area of central Sweden and the coasts of northern Norway, bringing these areas distinctive cultural spirits. In northern Scandinavia, Finnish-related languages are spoken, such as Kven Meän and various Sámi languages. Swedish is spoken on the Finnish coast, but it is also spoken inland. There are about 6% of native Swedish speakers in Finland, but if those who speak Swedish as a second language are included, the number can at least double. The constitutions of the Scandinavian countries are remarkably similar. Uniform laws and cultures have made it possible, for example, for a unified area of employment between countries. The fact that Finland has its own special features in both culture and history does not rule out the fact that Finland was annexed to Scandinavia when, in the 12th century, Sweden and Denmark began crusades into what is now Finland, and finally became part of the Kingdom of Sweden for centuries. Each Scandinavian country is unique, but still so similar that when you move across the border to a neighboring country, it is difficult to notice that you are in another country. Maybe we’ve just moved to another village, or a city in Scandinavia.

[@Anttimation]

A bunch of solid arguments there! Why I like to differentiate Finland from Scandinavia probably has its roots in school geography where we were strictly taught that the Scandinavian peninsula only includes the very northernmost mountainous Finland. And there already is a better English word: the Nordic countries.

[@ristusnotta1653]

Finland is not part of Scandinavia, you are welcome.

[@pyttpytts2690]

@@ristusnotta1653 of course it is, just look at the flag, you also have a minority of Swedish speaking people, You are welcome

[@ristusnotta1653]

@@pyttpytts2690 what the hell does the flag and minority has to do with being scandinavian

[@hakced]

@@pyttpytts2690 thats... because sweden colonised us?? thats like saying australia is part of the british isles because "look at the flag, and they speak english"

[@ventusastrea3850]

Olet todennäköisesti vastannut jo kysymykseen, mutta millaisista lähteistä tulee tietosi, sillä itteäkin kiehtoo suomenmytologia ja eteenkin hieman harvinaisemmat aiheet kuten maahiset ja väki. ps. sun videot on yhtä paljon kiehtovia kuin huvittavia eli ihan mahtavaa kamaa :DD

[@Anttimation]

Kiitos paljon! Pääasiassa näistä perusteoksista eli Uno Harva: Suomalaisten muinaisuko ja Martti Haavio: Suomalainen mytologia. SKVR:n hakemistosta sitaatteja. En oo vielä tutustunut, mutta Anna-Leena Siikalan melko tuore Itämerensuomalaisten mytologia on ilmeisesti oikein hyvä sekin.

[@LeoniFermer-vi4dc]

Many similarities with UK faery folk. Seen as Ants and stoats. We call them bwca (bucca) or pookah. I have two Trolls by my bed. Ruuthi and Grizelda. Ha ha . I love them.

[@Anttimation]

Maybe it comes from a Proto-Indo-European tradition? 🤔 or spread later from one place to another. Greetings to Ruuthi and Grizelda!

[@LeoniFermer-vi4dc]

@@Anttimation yes of course! Thank you. My Trolls will be gratified. He he🌞

[@cameronwilson1378]

First wave of Black metal haha, love that and i love Finland's Black metal. Impaled Nazerene Archgoat and Baptism. and others

[@Anttimation]

Wait, it's been a while since I made this and I don't remember that line, although sounds like something I'd have written 😆

[@TeroPajunen]

What about the creatures, which live inside human houses? They are usually referred as tonttu, ie. sauna tonttu etc. What is the mythological difference in between a maahinen, peikko and tonttu?

[@Anttimation]

Good question. They're all similar in some ways. Peikko (troll) and tonttu (tomte) are more influenced/coming from later Swedish lore and there's regional variation too, for example mountain trolls are more common in areas with Swedish speaking population. Trolls are much like and sometimes interchangeable with giants whereas maahiset are usually smaller and live underground. Tonttus tend to be friendly if you're on good terms with them :)

[@Aubble]

yup pretty sure it's like that

[@Anttimation]

:D

[@tiberiumnp8030]

Chicken cage of terror 🤘

[@samuru101]

My friend is a goblin

[@goblinwizard735]

Do you know the yaksha from India/South Asia? I’ve always wondered if they are connected to trolls and gnomes. I am enjoying your videos (and sense of humor) quite a bit, thank you for these things.

[@Anttimation]

No I haven't heard of them but will check now! There are troll-like creatures around the world in different stories so it wouldn't surprise me if these were similar. Thanks for watching & commenting!

[@yeraycatalangaspar195]

I don't think we have trolls in Spain. Some are similar, like Malismos, or big ogres like tartalos and Ojancanos, or big foot like beings like the basajaun or simiot. Perhaps the Gentilak would be the best fit.

[@Anttimation]

Wow the Ojáncanu looks scary. I guess one-eyed ogres are mostly found around the Mediterranean?

[@yeraycatalangaspar195]

@@Anttimation There are a few, the most famous of course the Odysee ones, sons of Poseidon, and of course the three smiths sons of Gaia, but some/most tartalos were one eyed,and those were Basque, and I think there were other giants in spain with one eye but I will have to search for them again... And I'm sure the rest of countries have something like that. But like Trolls, we don't have much, as I said Gentilak are the most likely, being the mythological beings than represent the ancestors, along the Mouros/encantados. The functions tought tend to fall to stuff like Basajauns, Trastorlillos, Busgosos, Trenties and other goblin like beings of the forest I guess.

[@hakosaari]

Heippa, Koitin äsken kirjoittaa tähän kommentin, mutta sivusto vissiin poisti sen automaattisesti. En tiedä tuliko siihen englanninkielinne ruma sana tai jotain. Mutta piti sanomani, että melkoinen sattuma että ollaan melkein kokonimikaimoja, ja tehdään molemmat sarjakuvaa peikoista. Itse en perusta tarinaa mytologiaan ollenkaan, mutta tarinani peikot osuu pelottavan lähelle sinun peikkoja näin äkkiä vilkaistuna :D

[@Anttimation]

Mikäs helvetin kaksoisolento sinä olet? :D Huikea sattuma kyllä. Katsastin peikkojasi Artsationista, ja komean näköisiä otuksia niin kuin pitääkin. 👌 Piirrän ykkösnumeron kantta, ja kunhan töiltä ehdin niin kohta on ns. ulkona.

[@hakosaari]

@@Anttimation Joo melkoinen sattuma. Äsken sut löysin täältä kun selailin Tubea, ja katsoin että joku perkule jo tekee peikkosarjista :D No ei auta kuin mennä eteenpäin ja toivoa että ei tehdä ihan samanlaisia tarinoita. Täytyypä ostaa tuo sun ykkösnumero heti kun se ilmestyy.

[@Anttimation]

@@hakosaari Kiitos! En usko, että tarvitsee pelätä liikaa samankaltaisuutta. Tai no mitä nyt peikkotarinoista varmaan tietyt brutaalit perusjutut aina löytyy. Sulla on sopivasti erilainen tyyli, niin olisi siistiä saada johonkin tulevaan julkaisuun kansi tms.. Ei oo nyt budjettia, mutta kiinnostaisiko mahdollisesti tulevaisuudessa?

[@hakosaari]

@@Anttimation Kiinnostaa kyllä ehdottomasti. Täytyy pitää yhteyttä asian suhteen. Budjetilla nyt tuskin on väliä. Sarjakuvat on mulle harrastus ja lapsuuden intohimo mitä oon ruvennut taas aikuisena uudelleen sytyttämään, niin eiköhän yhden kannen voi aina tehdä ihan vaan kokemuksena :)

[@sabithasajan5564]

Do trolls actually have a tail or is it creative liberty?

[@Anttimation]

Well, until we have a photo or find remains, I think it remains up for debate!

[@MattGodzilla2000]

Would Sasquatch/bigfoot not count as a troll?

[@Anttimation]

I think the definition of troll is not set in stone - there are similar creatures around the world in most cultures, and even though they are known by a different name, a humanoid monster/creature is more or less a troll in my opinion. If you call Sasquatch/Bigfoot a troll I certainly won't mind 😁

[@ronaldpagar6513]

Excuse me but can you please do otso?

[@Anttimation]

For now there's a bear video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJrRZmmEZ6lsh6c

[@MessiahsandMythology]

I can see the influence of the Slavic Domovoi to a certain extent, but it’s missing the connection with primitive ancestor-worship. Are there any accounts of trolls aiding around the house when no one is looking? If so, they might be more similar to a Scottish Brownie. Sorry, my single braincell is looking for some semblance of pattern recognition. Great video as always. Btw, what is your preferred method of contact? I have a proposition for you.

[@Anttimation]

Yeah, there's definitely some similarities there. I'm not familiar at all with the Slavic or Scottish creatures but based on your description our elves/gnomes would be closer - often helping around the house when no one's looking. Sure - you can email me at anttiplsr4 (at) gmail.com.

[@MessiahsandMythology]

@@Anttimation alright, sent it to you.

[@Sienisota]

More brownie(?) like creatures are Tonttu. They may live in homes, barns or sauna. Modern meaning of the word tonttu is like Santa's helper elf(?). Peikko /troll didn't spend time near people's houses or buildings, unless they were there to steal something and take it to the forest. At least that is how it was taught to me. (Edit. And you could try to calm a kotitonttu (home elf) by leaving a bit milk or some other food near the door to inside your home.)

[@_goblinx_]

Mä veikkaan että mä oon nyt peikko