• Home
  • Portfolio
  • Shop
  • About
    • Blog
    • Prices for children´s book illustrations
  • FAQ
  • Contact
  • Etusivu
  • Portfolio
  • Kauppa
  • Taiteilijasta
    • Blogi
  • Yhteystiedot
  Fairychamber - Art and Illustrations by Niina Niskanen
  • Home
  • Portfolio
  • Shop
  • About
    • Blog
    • Prices for children´s book illustrations
  • FAQ
  • Contact
  • Etusivu
  • Portfolio
  • Kauppa
  • Taiteilijasta
    • Blogi
  • Yhteystiedot

Blog

Fox in Finnish Mythology

6/30/2018

3 Comments

 
foxes in myths, Foxes in Finnish mythology, fox, foxes, Finland, animal myths, northern lights, aurora borealis,

Fox The Cunning Forest Spirit 

In Finnish folk tales fox is described to be cunning, smart and careful. These attributes fit into real life foxes as well. In ancient Finland foxes were hunted because of their precious fur. Foxes have highly developed sense of smell all and fox traps were kept extremely clean. People used to scrub them with pine cones to get rid of the human scent. Foxes were (and are) very smart animals and people had difficulties catching them. It was believed that the person who managed to catch foxes had strong shamanistic powers. According to folklore fox´s emuu (the creator spirit) in Finnish mythology is Käreitär goddess of the flame or goddess called Lukutar. Her name is derived from word lukka meaning sand bench which are common places for fox's dens.
foxes in myths, Foxes in Finnish mythology, fox, foxes, Finland, animal myths, myth, mythical, northern lights, aurora borealis,

Fox and the Northern Lights 

​In northern Finland and in Lapland there is legend told about Tulikettu the fire fox. Tulikettu was a magical giant fox who lived in the snowy hills in far north. It was every hunters dream to catch the fire fox for it was believed that the hunter who would catch it would be wealthy man for the rest of their life. Tulikettu was little bit like the Phoenix bird. There could only be one Tulikettu at a time. No one could never catch the fire fox who because it was as fast as the wind. There is a story told in northern Finland and Lapland about the birth of the northern lights. When fire fox runs fast in the snowy hills it´s fur touches the snow and creates magical sparkles to the skies. Still today Finnish word for northern lights is revontulet which literally means the fox´s fires. This story is based on reality because in dry freezing cold air fur becomes electric and can create tiny sparkles.
foxes in myths, Foxes in Finnish mythology, fox, foxes, Finland, animal myths, myth, mythical, northern lights, aurora borealis,

My video about foxes in Finnish myths )O( 


I am a bit obsessed with foxes and I love painting them. I´v painted the fire fox on several occasions. Here is one of them. The painting is called "Birth of lights". You can find this painting turned into stickers, coffee mugs, prints and all other cool products on my Redbubble store. 
Picture
Check out my course about Finnish mythology )O( 
3 Comments
Valerie Wedel
1/9/2019 09:33:48 pm

Thank you for this lovely talk about Firefox. I am learning about her, and if you have suggestions on additional stories I'd love to hear.

Am currently reading a translation of the Kalevala, and have not yet encountered Firefox in any of the stories, but maybe soon :)

On my Instagram there are two drawings of Firefox, and working on more. Would enjoy your opinion if you go and visit: ValerieCruithaire.

Thanks for your story :)
Valerie

Reply
Niina Niskanen link
1/22/2019 03:18:30 pm

Thank you Valerie. I doubt you can find stories about the Fire fox from Kalevala but it´s worth researching Finnish and Saami animal myths. I´ll check your Instagram. Take care - Niina

Reply
Niina Niskanen link
1/22/2019 03:19:15 pm

It is a wonderful topic to draw and paint )O(

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Niina

    Pronounced as Nee-na.
    ​
    Artist, illustrator, writer and a folklorist. Gryffinclaw. Comes from Finland. Likes cats, tea and period dramas. 
    Picture

    Archives

    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018

    Picture
    Please keep the comment section civil, respectful and connected to the topic at hand. ​Thank you.  Spammy/rude/passive-agressive comments will be blocked and reported. 
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Support Fairychamber

    Picture

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Aboriginal Mythology
    African Myths
    Amy And Laurie
    Animal Art
    Animal Myths
    Animations
    Anne Of Green Gables
    Arabic Mythology
    Art Business Advice
    Artist Chats
    ASMR
    Assyrian Myths
    As Told By Ginger
    Autumn Art
    Baltic Myths
    Beauty And The Beast
    Bones
    Book Reviews
    Brothers Grimm
    Celtic Myths
    Challenges
    Charles-perrault
    Chinese Myths
    Christmas
    Cinderella
    Comic-cons
    Cosplay
    Crafting Tutorials
    Disney
    Disney Crafts Diy
    Divination
    Dolls
    Drawing
    Drawing Tutorials
    Earthsea
    Egyptian Myths
    Estonian Mythology
    Estonian Wheel Of The Year
    Fairies & Elves
    Fairy Crafts DIY
    Fairy Tale Origins
    Fantasy Art
    Fashion Illustrations
    Finnish Culture
    Finnish Mythology
    Finnish Wheel Of The Year
    Food Illustrations
    Frozen
    Germanic Folktales
    Getting To Know Me
    Ghost Stories
    Goddess Art
    Greek Mythology
    Halloween
    Halloween Crafts
    Hansel And Gretel
    Harry Potter
    Harry Potter Crafts
    Health
    Hindu Mythology
    Howl´s Moving Castle
    Illustrations
    Inuit Myths
    Irish Tales
    Jane The Virgin
    Japanese Myths
    Jo And Friedrich
    Komi Mythology
    Korean Myths
    Languages
    Latvian Wheel Of The Year
    Learn Finnish
    Lithuanian Wheel Of The Year
    Little Women
    Mari Folklore
    Marketing Your Art
    Meg And John
    Mermaids
    Miniatures
    MishMash Videos
    Moomins
    Movie-reviews
    Mulan
    Music
    Mythical Motifs
    Mythmas
    Native American Myths
    New Designs
    Norse Myths And Legends
    Painting
    Painting Tutorials
    Percy Jackson
    Persian Myths
    Pinocchio
    Polynesian Myths
    Red Riding Hood
    Roman Mythology
    Saami Mythology
    Samoyed Myths
    Scotland
    Scottish Tales
    Shamanism
    Sketchbook
    Slavic Mythology
    Sleeping Beauty
    Snow White
    Spells And Superstitions
    Symbols And Mythical Motifs
    Tea Time
    The Good Witch
    The X Files
    Time Lapse Paintings
    Tinker Bell
    Traveling
    Trees And Plants
    Turkic Myths
    Unicorns
    Valentine´s Day
    Vedic Myths
    Watercolor Textures
    Welsh Myths
    Welsh Wheel Of The Year
    Wheel Of The Year: Autumn
    Wheel Of The Year: Spring
    Wheel Of The Year: Summer
    Wheel Of The Year: Winter
    W.i.t.c.h
    Witch Bottles
    Witch Hunts
    Zodiac Myths

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Portfolio
  • Shop
  • About
    • Blog
    • Prices for children´s book illustrations
  • FAQ
  • Contact
  • Etusivu
  • Portfolio
  • Kauppa
  • Taiteilijasta
    • Blogi
  • Yhteystiedot