Finnish Folklore


Book Description

This book presents an overview of Finnish folklore from the nineteenth century to the present. The Nordic country of Finland has been influenced by both east and west and serves as an excellent showcase of European folklore in general. Guided by Finnish Folklore, readers will learn how folklore has been collected and researched in Finland, what regional distinctions exist in the country's traditions, and how traditions have changed in the process of modernization. An extensive anthology section features ancient alliterative poetry, such as formed the basis of the Finnish national epic Kalevala. The book contains translated examples of rhymed folk songs, folktales, legends, and other narratives, proverbs, riddles, jokes, and contemporary genres like children's folklore, urban legends, and anecdotes. Tradition continues to live on in communications from person to person, sometimes travelling thousands of miles and over many national borders in the process. The same item of folklore may acquire new meanings in new contexts. What is the linking thread of tradition? Humour, sexuality, fear, or laughter? Is it our eternal longing for happiness or just the endless need of human beings to pass the time with each other?




The Lutheran Observer


Book Description




The Hound of Tooty River


Book Description

Terry Toivo desperately wanted to hide from his legend; an outlaw which every sheriff wanted out of town. Branded as the Ghost of Fort Rice, a title earned by cheating the gallows, Terry finds unexpected and unwelcomed help to turn his life around, to include a judge that declared him married to his nemesis. Hounded by an Indian tracker, his journey takes him from complete reprobation to a respected hero of the Dakota Territories. The Hound of Tooty River is a masterpiece of both simple and complex themes modeled after the C.S. Lewis style of storytelling. This authentic narrative tells of the lives of the hard working families living on the vanguards of the nation as frontier justice gave way to rule of law. Drawing from family oral traditions, a military dossier, a Canadian Bible, and newspaper clippings dating back to the early days of Fort Rice and Bismarck, The Hound of Tooty River is a deep, moving, and exciting account of the romance that brought the author’s great-grandparents to marriage, and made an honest man out of Terry Toivo. Readers will want to mine the next page for new clues as the “Hound” chases the unlikely hero through a captivating series of events. This adventure will delight the teen, stir the heart of the romantic, and inspire the theologian. Dr. Lloyd Olson




The Enchanted Wood and Other Tales from Finland


Book Description

Some of the world's oldest and richest folk traditions come from a country that most Americans know very little about-Finland (or Suomi). The fifth largest country in Europe (in land size), Finland is home to the third true folk epic, The Kalevala (The Land of Heroes). It is a country of lush forests and sparkling clear lakes where, in the northern regions, reindeer still roam. This collection introduces readers to the fascinating culture, history, geology, and folk literature of Finland. After a historical and cultural overview, the authors present 20 representative stories-including ancient tales from The Kalevala, humorous and moral tales (e.g., The Selfish Housewife and The Magic Wish)-and a fictionalized account of a witch trial in the 1600s. Holiday traditions, proverbs and sayings, and traditional recipes embellish this collection and will tantalize and intrigue readers. Color plates illustrate the land, the people, and artistic traditions of this wondrous people.




Letters from Finland


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Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities


Book Description

The history of the divine is the history of human thought. For as long as men and women have pondered the mysteries of their existence, they have answered their own questions with stories of gods and goddesses. Belief in these deities shaped whole civilizations, yet today many of their names and images lie buried. The Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities makes those names available to the general reader as well as the scholar. This reference work lists all the known gods through recorded history. Alphabetically arranged entries provide the name of each deity (with alternate spellings), as well as notes on names that may be linguistically or functionally related. The tribe or culture that worshiped the deity is identified, and the god's origins and functions are explained. An extensive bibliography provides opportunities for further research and an exhaustive index provides access to the entries through virtually all names, forms and kinds of deities.




Dog World


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The Vikings


Book Description

The story of the Norse is a Viking adventure in history. The Norse saga began with the first ancient tribes of Norsemen during the Early Nordic Stone Age. The beginning of the Nordic Ax Culture when primitive Norsemen created their first battle axes from stone. The evolution of an innovative and progressive culture that groomed legendary warriors whose voices still roar out today. Take a journey into the Age of Viking Expansion where Ragnar Lothbrok, Rollo, Erik the Red, and many other famous Vikings take you on a ride into the very Halls of Valhalla. Very interesting and worth the read to anyone interested in the Vikings or Norse history. Explore knowledge and technology specific to a culture that was shaped by a people able to reach great distances beyond their homelands and seas. A battle ferocious people with shields, armor, and weaponry that was unmatched by their opponents. A whole new world of understanding about the ancient vikings has been opened up by new archaeological discoveries and studies. New findings that lead to new questions. Could some of the mythological tales about giants in the Norse Sagas have had some truth behind them? Researchers have found proof of giants and humans interacting together in our own DNA! There are also many shared technologies between the Ancient Norse, Asians, the Inuit and other North American aborigines. Viking explorers have long interacted and traded with many people and cultures afar. Were ancient Norse already in contact with early Native Americans? Were these the people they referred to as "Skraelings?" Were they Proto-Inuits known by the ancients as Thule People? See for yourself with new information about the Norse that was once lost in time.




Storytelling


Book Description

Storytelling is an ancient practice known in all civilizations throughout history. Characters, tales, techniques, oral traditions, motifs, and tale types transcend individual cultures - elements and names change, but the stories are remarkably similar with each rendition, highlighting the values and concerns of the host culture. Examining the stories and the oral traditions associated with different cultures offers a unique view of practices and traditions."Storytelling: An Encyclopedia of Mythology and Folklore" brings past and present cultures of the world to life through their stories, oral traditions, and performance styles. It combines folklore and mythology, traditional arts, history, literature, and festivals to present an overview of world cultures through their liveliest and most fascinating mode of expression. This appealing resource includes specific storytelling techniques as well as retellings of stories from various cultures and traditions.




For the Love of Dogs


Book Description

An illustrated overview of the history of "man's best friend" throughout time, information about various breeds and behaviors, and more!