Syöjätär, sometimes referred to as an "Ogress", is a character in Finnish folklore. She is associated with the origin of some diseases, as well as unpleasant creatures such as the snake, lizard, or wolf. In some folktales she takes the role of wicked mother.
Description
Syöjätär appears in some of the "Magic Songs" catalogued by in the Suomen kansan muinaisia loitsurunoja - these were later translated into English by Abercromby.
Origin
A possible origin story is given in a song describing the "Origin of Injuries caused by Spells", which contains some post-Christian elements: Louhiatar wife of Pohja becomes pregnant whilst sleeping with her back to the wind, impregnated by a blast of wind... After more than nine months the woman seeks to give birth but can find no good place to do so - then god speaks to her from a cloud indicating that a "three cornered shed is on the swamp, on the shore facing the sea in gloomy Pohjola go thither to be confined, to lighten thy womb..." - she gives birth to nine sons, and one girl. God refuses to baptise them, as does "Juhannes, the holy knight" - Louhitar then baptises them herself, giving them names - one of her boys, who lacks a mouth or eyes remains unnamed, and she sends him away to the Rutja rapids, from him were said to originate sharp frosts, sorcerers and wizards, jealous persons, and the creatures called Syöjätärs.
As with other mythic entities in the "songs" Syöjätär's name is used in allusions or figurative reference to creatures, objects, and concepts - she is generally imbued with negative connotations: In a spell against syphilis the disease is called the progeny of Syöjätär; in a spell against "tooth worm" the creature's origin is given as coming indirectly from the work of Syöjätär: Together with Hiisi she is a key element in the creation myth of Snakes - in the story Hiisi's sleep drool is swallowed by Syöjätär, but it burns her and she spits it out.. after being blown by the wind, it lands and dries, Hiisi then brings it to life. In other variants it is Syöjätär's spit, but Hiisi still brings it to life. She is also involved in the creation of the Lizard - she spits on the sea that forms a bubble - the bubble is swallowed by the girlKasaritar who becomes pregnant for three years, then gives birth to a Lizard. A similar creation story for the Wolf again involves Syöjätär spitting on the sea - then Kuolatar appears from the sea on a bare island - this creature rubs its palms to create some land whereon the wolf was reared. In a song describing the origin of stone, it is described as the heart's core of Syöjätär, amongst several other allusions; she is also the originator of the Fir tree, together with Maajatar, Pellervoinen, and Naservainen who develop it. In a song for the purpose "To Still Violence" Syöjätär is referenced as the "Ogress", and is given as an element in the consumption of persons consumed by violence or anger:
Syöjätär is mentioned in passing in the Finnish epic, the Kalevala, but does not appear herself - in Rune XV a reference to the creation of the snake from her spit is found; and in Rune XXVI a similar description of the formation of a snake from her spit is given.
Syöjätär appears in a several folk tales, recorded in the Suomen kansan Satuja ja Tarinoita edited by Eero Salmelainen. In Saaressa eläjät, a tale about three sisters who seek to marry the King, she appears as a wicked mother who replaces newborn children with animals so that her own daughter can marry the king. Syöjätär also appears in other stories in the same collection of tales. In Part 1: Mikko Mieheläinen; Ihmeellinen koiwu; Kummallinen tammi; Merestä-nousija neito; Weljiänsä etsijät ja joutsenina lentäjät; Neitonen kuninkaan sadussa; and Weljiänsä-etsijä tyttö,, and in Part 2: Leppäpölkky; and Awannolla kehrääjät.
Similar folklorish figures
Together with akka, Syöjätär fills similar roles in Finnish folklore as does Baba Yaga in Russian lore. There are also some similarities between Syöjätär and Russian folklore depiction of the devil – such as both being the origin of creatures like snakes and toads. Syöjätär lacks the positive side of the ambiguous Baba Yaga – this role is fulfilled by akka in Finnish myth.
