Animism
Among the Snowmen of Forochel animals, plants and even rocks, were believed to possess a spirit. Each tribe had a spirit-animal, which held special importance to the tribesmen. Vaalea's tribe was that of the wolf (L: Susi-heimo) and wolves were viewed as ancestors among the tribesmen. Killing a wolf was highly prohibited - to slay a wolf without it's permission, was like to slay a brother. Wolves were hunted only once a year in a religious ritual of manhood. Other big predators were given spiritual importance as well and to be allowed to kill such a beast was considered a great honour. Besides big predators, old trees and strangely shaped rocks were commonly considered holy as well.
The Two Shamans
Susi-heimo had two shamans. And old shaman (L: Vanha Tietäjä), a woman, called Vanha Juuta and a younger shaman (L: Nuori Tietäjä), a man, called Iljas. The old shaman worked as a mentor, to the younger one, guiding him to ways of the spirit world. Shamans’ main role were to communicate with the ancestors through dreams and various states of trance. Shamans used a ritual drum to open the gates to the spirit world, so that the spirits of the ancestors could come and offer their guidance to the living. The young successor of the old shaman was chosen by the ancestors whom told their wishes to the elderly shaman. Shamans were both respected and feared.
The Great Spirits
Polytheism was part of the religion of the Snowmen. Many of their Great Spirits represented some power of nature present in their frozen lands. Below you can find a list of the most important Great Spirits of Susi-heimo.
Ämmae (W: Old woman, good): The Great Spirit of fertility.
Äijae (W: Old man, good): The Great Spirit of weather, The Highest of the Spirits.
Viima (W: Breeze, evil) : The Great Spirit of biting winds.
Puhuri (W: Gale, evil): The Great Spirit of snowstorms.
Lauha (W: Mild, good): The Great Spirit of mild weather.
Pakkanen (W: Frost, evil): The Great Spirit of cold weather.
Siimes (W: Shade, good): The Great Spirit of forest and hunting.
Suunta (W: Direction, good): The Great Spirit of navigation and guidance.
Eheä (W: Whole, Unbroken, good): The Great Spirit of healing.
Rutto (W: Plague, evil): The Great Spirit of sickness.
Sacrifice of animals and objects to the Great Spirits played an important role in the religious ceremonies of the Snowmen. Such ceremonies were often held on holy grounds, as the veil between the world of the mortals and the world of the Great Spirits was considered to be thinner at such places. Holy grounds were often landscapes shaped aggressively by nature (=The Great Spirits). Individuals often also built an own shrine of stones, sticks and tokens, upon which they personally pleaded to some of the Spirits by offering them various objects and food items.
The Lesser Spirits
Besides The Great Spirits there were also some well known Lesser Spirits. Below you can find the best known spirits among the tribesmen of Susi-heimo.
Kalmansitoja (W: Binder of the Fallen, neutral): A spirit-guide who was believed to guide the fallen over the veil to the spirit world. Some also believed that he guided the living as well in the matters of life and death, speaking to the few and chosen through their dreams.
Railo (W: Crack, evil): A bitter spirit whom lived under the ice in the cold waters. It was told that in the most sorrowful of his days, he rose to the surface, cracked the ice and pulled a person walking upon it into the depths to keep him company.
Quirks
Viima’s name was often used as a swear word among the Snowmen. For example: ”Viima soikoon!” (W: Drat!), ”Viima siut vieköön.” (W: Damn you.), ”Ei Viima siun kanssa/ Ei Viima teiän kanssa.” (W:The hell with you), ”Ei viima, mie en kyllä siun kanssa lähe mihinkään.” (W: Hell no, I’m not going anywhere with you.).
Pohjoisen tuulet (Northern winds), was a general term for The Great Spirits of the winds. Of them the most respected and feared were Viima (Breeze) and Puhuri (Gale). Some snowmen wore Kahden tuulen lakki (A Hat of Two Winds), which was a colourful hat with two horns, one devoted to Viima and other to Puhuri. The hat was said to bring luck and protect it’s bearer from the most biting winds.
