Magic Songs of the West Finns

THE PRE- AND PROTO-HISTORIC FINNS

BOTH EASTERN AND WESTERN

WITH

The Magic Songs

OF THE WEST FINNS

By the Honourable

JOHN ABERCROMBY

COR. MEMBER OF THE FINNO-UGRIAN SOCIETY

IN TWO VOLUMES

VOL. I.

Published by David Nutt in the Strand, London

[1898]

This is the first volume of John Abercromby's extensive study of Finnish magic songs and their background. First he details the history, ethnography and linguistics of the Finns, indeed, constructs a century-long history of the entire Finno-ugric group from the evolution of vocabulary. Finally in the last (long) chapter he gets to the first part of the exposition of the 'magic songs.' This is a summary of the various characters in the songs including a whole range of Finnish gods, goddesses, heroes, wizards, nature-spirits, and so on. He also goes into detail about Finnish Shamanistic practices, including drumming, trance ceremonies, and guide spirits. This book is a treasure trove of Finnish lore, and invites repeated browsings.

Sacred Texts

Preface
Contents
The Value of Additional Letters of the Alphabet
Full Titles of Books Consulted and Referred to
Illustrations
Chapter I. Geographical Position and Craniology of the Finns
Chapter II. The Neolithic Age in Finland
Chapter III. Historical Notices of Classical Authors
Chapter VI. The Prehistoric Civilisation of the Finns
Chapter V. The Third or Iranian Period
Chapter VI. Beliefs of the West Finns as Exhibited in the Magic Songs
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Magic Songs of the West Finns, Vol. 2

Published by David Nutt

in the Strand, London

[1898]

This is the second volume of Abercromby's Magic Songs of the West Finns, which contains the core text here, a translation of Lönnrot's Suomen Kansan muinaisia Loitsurunoja, 'Bygone Magic Songs of the Finns.' Lönnrot was the scholar who pieced together the Kalevala, the national epic of Finland.
Reminiscent of the Carmina Gadelica, the collection includes a wide variety of spells, formulae, prayers, and origin myths, all used on a regular basis by shamans, healers and peasants from ancient times in Finland. The songs include dozens of names of gods, goddesses, heroes, nature spirits, and weave them together using surreal and symbolic language. Although scholars could wish for better attribution of the source of each song, this collection is an incredible look into an archaic way of thought.--J.B. Hare, March 9th, 2010.

Chapter VII. Charms of the East Finns, Russians, Letts, etc.
Magic Songs of the Finns
Words of Healing Power
Formulæ
Prayers
Origins
Index

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