Story of Hiidenmäki

The forest was silent. The sun was just about to rise when a flock of birds sprang into flight. A band of people walked quietly, heads down towards a sacrificial grove on the clifftop. The place was commonly called "hiisi", a place for sacrifice, where people gathered to sacrifice to the gods of nature and to the people who were buried there. These rituals were performed to bring good luck to the surroundings and to keep diseases and other misfortunes away. This time, the band had gathered to sacrifice food for the spirits to ensure a succesfull hunt. In the previous evening, the eldest of the band had reminded others that when approaching the hiisi, one should have their body and mind clear. Nothing was to be taken away from the place, even a stalk of grass was not to be broken. The sun started rising and the eldest one began to intone a poem:

"I range to wilderness
burst to great backwoods
I please the mistress forest
the forest small maiden
I wish forest to be pleased with me
then the forest cherishes me
When I range to wilderness.

As I soar to wilderness:
I go through Spruces,
I go through Pines
I open the granary of the forest god Tapio
This I do when I roam to forest
As I soar to wilderness!"

In these sacred groves, the knowledge of the birth of the world and the beginning of time were passed on. It was told, that there was a world tree, which grew on the Milky Way. Through the Milky way souls of the dead wandered into the Underworld. Astronomers have estimated that 6000 years ago during the spring equinox, the Milky Way was right on top of the viewer, looking like a celestial world tree spreading its branches.

Hiisi, an ancient sacred place, was a gate to the past and a link to the spirits of the deceased who hold the course of the future in their hands. Ancient sacred trees and groves can still be found in Finland, although most of the pagan sacred trees and groves were ordered to be chopped down when Christianity came to Finland during the 11th century. In the year of 1229 Pope of Rome gave an order to seize all the pagan sacred trees and groves. At the same time the Finnish word "hiisi" were given a new, sinful meaning for a bad place or character. For example, "hiisi" became a synonym for the devil, a wicked elf or a gnome.

Nevertheless, the hiisi of Hiidenmäki, a sacred burial ground, has remained. The place was first discovered in 1999 and so far, among others, such things as men's and women's jewellery, a whip, knives and pottery which have been sacrificial gifts during the Viking era, approximately 800 - 1050 AD, have been found there. However, the samples from the charred bones indicate that the sacred burial ground has already been used as early as in the time of migration of people, approximately 400 - 600 AD.

The sacred burial ground of Hiidenmäki appears a fairly ordinary cliff to us, but for those who visited the burial ground in the old times, the place had a meaning of a temple, where the well-being of the environment and the future was guaranteed by sacrificing. The surrounding forest is nowadays a conservation area, but you can yet walk there in peace - just remember that it is forbidden to break any branches or stalks of grass.

The guided Viking tour organised by Villa Hiidenmäki follows along these significant places. The paths in the forest are told to be made by its inhabitants, and thus it might be possible to see the guardian spirit of the forest along the way. If the guardian spirit or the Hiisi crosses your way, you must look boldly into its eyes. The creature does not like it, and will likely leave you alone. However, be respectful, or the Hiisi might lead you off the track.

You can also get one of the Hiidenmäki discoveries for yourself! Do not hesitate to ask more at the location.

Our jewellery are also sold by:

Himos World (office)
Museum of Central Finland (museum shop)
Patapirtti
Enkeliriihi