Honey And Mythological Folklore

The Magical Powers Of Honey

There is no better illustration of the belief in the magic power of honey than in the
romantic tales of the Kalevala. It was the Kalevalal that the the magnetic effect
of honey, steel was produced, beer was brewed, the dog was created, and with
the help of honeys blissful charm,wounds were healed and the dead restored to
life. In Finland, the Land of the Thousands of Lakes, we find many delightful
fables intimately connected with honey.

The Finnish supposedly are a Mongolian race, like the Hungarians, Mordvins and
other nations of kindred tongues. Apiculture was far advanced among them.
Honey has been in great favor in Finland since time immemorial. The Kalevala,
the epic poem of Finland, which is comparable only to the Iliad, Nibelungen, or
Roland legends, often alludes to honey. The Kalevala (the abode of heroes, a
bardic designation of Finland) is a charming national epic and one of the most
significant poetic works in existence. Its origin and introduction, in addition to its
literary value, are extremely instructive from a historical viewpoint. The old sagas,
the mystical and allegorical folktales and proverbs which the Kalevala contains,
in the form of songs, ballads and incantations, were on the lips of the ancient
people of that cold, bleak and desolate country for over a thousand years before
they were collected by Zacharias Topelius, and Elias Lnnrot, both practicing
physicians of Helsingfors, and their collaborators, who spent many years of travel
in Finland, Lapland and Russia, recording the popular songs and stories of the
peasantry and fishermen. They traveled through forests, marshes and ice-plains,
on horseback, in sledges drawn by reindeer, in canoes and other primitive
conveyances to collect the legends and precious runes from the lips of the
minstrels.

The epic, filled with the power of magic, is a Herculean prototype of unwritten
history. Longfellow must have had great admiration for the beauty of the Kalevala
because the Hiawatha is a faithful imitation of it, both in respect to matter as well
as to meter. The enormous influence of the Kalevala on the Finnish population,
since it was first published (1835), is best proven by the remarkable
transformation, real regeneration of Finland.

The disclosure of these romantic tales of wonderful heroism aroused patriotism

and resulted in a surprisingly universal civic and moral revival of the nation.
Formerly the upper classes of Finland had been absorbed by Sweden and
Russia, while the majority of the population, as William Sharp remarked, became
a listless and inert mass. Today Finland, after long lethargy and constant
retrogression, is a new-born progressive country, full of hope, pride and ambition.
The fact that Finland is the only country paying its international debts, is the best
evidence. Of course, Providence is kind. Finland is a poor (which may be the
reason why it pays its debts), barren country, otherwise it would long ago have
been swallowed up by enterprising nations. Ethiopia, which is supposed to be
one of the richest countries in the world, should envy Finland its indigence.

Honey Folklore on the origin of beer A woman by the name of Kapo, the
beautiful daughter of Osmotar, was supposed to have been the man that
invented beer. His daughter was said to take six seeds of barley, seven leaves of
hop, and mixed them into seven separate pitchers of water. On the fire she sets
the caldron boils the barley, hops and water. Lets them steep and seethe and
bubble. The concoction did not ferment, and had no taste? What will bring the
effervescence, Who will add the needed factor that the beer may foam, and
sparkle. May ferment, and be delightful?

A snow-white squirrel was commanded to fetch some cones from a pine trees,
and a was weasel to gather some of the bears saliva, the foam from the lips of
anger, to serve as yeast. All efforts were in vain the beer would not foam.
Kalevatar, another sparkling maiden, found a little shell lying on the ground,
picked it up, and gave it to Kapo. From it, with the aid of Kapos magic virginal
fingers, a bee appeared. The newly created bee was instructed to fly to an island,
far over land and seas, where a maiden peacefully slumbered under honey
bearing blooms, and collect nectar from these flowers. The agile creature flew off
in haste and did what was ordered. The bee soon returned with the honey, which
was quickly added to the stubborn mixture. Immediately, the foam rose in the
vessel, and the new beverage was found to have a wonderful taste.

Thus was brewed the beer of Northland, At the hands of Osmos daughter. This
the origin of brewing Beer from Kalew-hops and barley. Great indeed the
reputation Of the ancient beer of Kalew Said to make the feeble hardy, Famed to
dry the tears of women, Famed to cheer the broken-hearted, make the aged
young and supple, make the timid brave and mighty, make the brave men ever
braver, fill the heart with joy and gladness, fill the mind with wisdom-sayings, fill
the tongue with ancient legends. Only makes the fool more foolish.

Honey And The Creation Of The Dog The best maiden of Pohjola was
standing near a wall, underneath the window front, engaged in melting virgin
honey. The honey hardened on her finger-points, with it she smeared the dogs
teeth. A useful dog was the result, a neat, white-collared dog was got. A dog that
does not eat one up, that does not bite the very least.

Honey And The Creation Of Cattle The hostess of Northland drove her cattle
daily to the meadows. In fear of the mighty bear, the honeyeater, which robbed
her of the best cattle. She fetched from Heaven a cornucopia, blew into it, and
soon the wide pastures were covered with honey. She then begot a golden well
filled with honey, from which her cows drank. She suggested to the bear, Otso,
you beloved honey-paw, you pride of the woods, here you are now lavishly
provided with honey, be content and spare my cattle. Thou shalt feed on milk
and honey Honey is the food of strangers. Otso agreed to the bargain, and was
perfectly satisfied. From that time on, the herd was unmolested.