“One of the most widely-spread of popular superstitions is that relating to stones having a natural perforation. These are everywhere believed to be inimical to all kinds of witchcraft, but more especially are they reckoned as protectors against the much-dreaded yet ever-present Evil Eye.” The above citation is how Frederick Thomas Elworthy started his short… Continue reading The “Holiness” of Holed Stones
Category: Stones
The Unique Witch’s Stone
Most of the magic objects that occur in the Finnish museum collections are common in the sense that either there are similar objects in the collections or at least they are mentioned in folklore accounts. As to every rule, there are a few exceptions. One of these exceptions is a so-called witch’s stone (Fi. noitakivi).… Continue reading The Unique Witch’s Stone
Cross-Cultural Cross Stones
This cross stone (staurolite crystal) belonged to a cunning man from Iisalmi before 1894 when it was bought by the museum. National Museum of Finland (KM F1249). Photo by S. Hukantaival. There are nine so-called cross stones (ristikivi) in the magic objects collection of the National Museum of Finland. One of these is a smooth,… Continue reading Cross-Cultural Cross Stones
The Strange Imatra Stones
There are seven strange limestone formations among the magic objects in the National Museum of Finland. Two of these are called “Imatra stones” (Imatrankivi) in the catalogue. Imatra stones are chalk coagulates that were formed in clay deposits of the River Vuoksi area during the melting phase of the Ice Age. They are often curiously… Continue reading The Strange Imatra Stones
The Burdensome Journey of Collecting Magic Objects
How did the magic objects end up in the museum collections? Most of these objects were collected in the late 19th and early 20th century. In this period, there was a huge effort to collect the “folk culture” of Finland to be preserved in archives and museums. Thus, researchers, students, schoolteachers, and other interested individuals… Continue reading The Burdensome Journey of Collecting Magic Objects
Bolts of Thunder
The thunderbolt prevents all fiery arrows of a witch. Often when cattle are thriving, someone will envy the cattle-luck. If one does not take precaution, the animals will start to suffer and will not thrive. Old folks used to conceal a thunderbolt under the threshold of the cowshed in the stone foundation, since witches could… Continue reading Bolts of Thunder
Raven Stones, Turnip Patches, and Guardian Snakes
A cunning person protects the turnip patch from thieves: After a new turnip patch was planted, ploughed, and fenced, the owner would summon a snake to guard it. If a thief would try to come into the patch, the guardian snake would attack. It would guard as long as the turnips were growing, until they… Continue reading Raven Stones, Turnip Patches, and Guardian Snakes
Snake’s Court Stones
The magic objects collections in Finnish museums include large amounts of small, roundish, water polished pebbles. These are often called “snake’s court stones” in the local tradition (Fin. käärmeenkäräjäkivet). According to folklore, vipers gathered in the spring to hold a court hearing. They needed to find and punish the viper that had bitten more people… Continue reading Snake’s Court Stones
Archaeology of Folk Religion 