Jumi

Jumi is a deity in Finnish mythology whose role has remained unclear.

Name

[edit]

The name is connected to the word jumala, which means "god" in Finnish and also refers to the monotheistic God. Many Finno-Ugric peoples have gods with similar names: Estonian Jummal, Sámi Jubmel or Ibmel, Komi Jen, Samoyed Jum ~ Num, and Mari Juma. These words are also used to refer to the monotheistic God.[1] Norse sagas also mention a god named Jómali worshipped in Bjarmaland.

According to M.A. Castrén, the name Jumala means a specific sky god who was sometimes also associated with lightning. Some of Ukko's epithets include the word, such as ylijumala ("jumala above"). The -la ending denotes a place, so Castrén has theorized that jumala has three meanings: sky, sky god, and "god" in general. However, after the latter meaning became more common, people started calling the sky taivas (Germanic loan word) and sky god Ukko.[1]

"Olla jumissa" ("to be in jumi") is Finnish for "to be stuck". However, in Western Finland, the term has also referred to having intercourse.[2]

Juminkeko and Jumin kurikka

[edit]

Juminkeko (Jumi's pile) and Jumin kurikka (Jumi's mallet) are unclear terms that exist in Finnish folklore. They have been used to mean napakivi (a standing stone in the middle of something), which has been connected to phallic imagery of fertility cults. If a connection to an old fertility cult is true, the name became demonized after the arrival of Christianity: to the Forest Finns, jumi and jummi mean the Devil.[2] In Inari, Jummin kurikka meant a 'large, rough pine root system'.[3]

Jumihäät

[edit]

Jumihäät (Jumi wedding) was an event held in Ostrobothnia. During the event, the youth would party and dance together, and teen boys and girls slept next to each other. Intercourse in this situation was frowned upon, but still happened sometimes. In that case, it was best for the couple to get married lest they brought shame upon themselves.[4] In 1758, Pastor J. Wegelius wrote the event was held for Jumi, the god of marriage, to increase luck in marriage, and was filled with inappropriate games, dancing, card games, drinks and food. In Muhos, a girl named Anna Caisa Ruuth had become pregnant in Jumihäät and killed the child, receiving the death penalty.[2] This was, according to Wegelius, meant as a warning and intimidation for others. Despite the opposition of the church, the youth kept holding Jumi weddings, saying it was their ancient right to do so. Everyone dressed in their best, and girls might have also dressed up as brides. The ones who didn't get partners went around the village all night looking for couples ("kokot"), laughing at them when they found one. Thus, the relationship between the couple became public knowledge.[4]

In Savonia, the youth valvoi jumia (stayed up for jumi), which was akin to a date night that did not extend to any kind of physical touch.[2] Juminmakaaminen (lying in jumi) meant a couple lied down together, hugging each other, in full clothing and without moving.[4]

In folk poetry

[edit]

The term Jumi doesn't appear much in Finnish and Karelian folk poetry. However, a White Karelian poem mentions Jumin kurikka once,[5] and a Kainuu spell against bears is addressed to "Old man jumi, old woman jumi, / the former inhabitants of jumi!" (Jumi ukko, jumi akka, / Jumin entiset eläjät!).[6] In North Karelia, the same chant is with "Juumi"[7] and in Ingria, with "Jummi".[8] A White Karelian poem also says a sudden sharp pain was shot by Jumi.[9] The latter is connected to a Christian era belief: in White Karelia, they said Jumi is "the devil's blind brother" who shot at humans and animals randomly. In Lönnrot's dictionary, he called Jumi a forest haltija, and sudden swellings were "shot by Jumi".[3]

Other usage

[edit]

Tupajumi (cottage jumi) is the Finnish name of the common furniture beetle. They, and especially the Hadrobregmus pertinax, make a ticking noise when attracting a mate. To Finns, the ticking was an omen of death.[2] Juminkolu ('Jumi's rocky ground') or Pirunkolu ('Devil's rocky ground') means a haunted place in a forest, where a child has been buried and a child's cry can be heard.[3] According to Johannes Tornaeus in the 17th century, Jumi was the ancestor of the Sámi. Possibly because of this, Christfried Ganander called Jumo or Jymi a giant, the same as Ymir.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Castrén, M.A. (2016). Luentoja suomalaisesta mytologiasta (suomentanut Joonas Ahola). Helsinki: Finnish Literature Society. pp. 87–89, 92–96. ISBN 978-952-222-937-3.
  2. ^ a b c d e Pulkkinen, Risto; Lindfors, Stina (2016). Suomalaisen kansanuskon sanakirja. Gaudeamus. pp. 85–86.
  3. ^ a b c d Krohn, Kaarle (1914). Suomalaisten runojen uskonto. Porvoo: Finnish Literature Society. pp. 298–299.
  4. ^ a b c Vilkuna, Kustaa (1950). Vuotuinen ajantieto. Helsinki: Otava. pp. 252–256. ISBN 978-951-1-12544-0. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  5. ^ SKVR I4 2174. Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura. 1918. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  6. ^ SKVR XII2 6854. Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura. 1882. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  7. ^ SKVR VII3 loitsut 1001. Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura. 1828. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  8. ^ SKVR IV3 4378. Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura. 1906. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  9. ^ SKVR I4 815. Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura. 1915. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jumi&oldid=1285055830"