Finns have always had a special relationship with the bear. The bear is Finland’s national animal and a revered king of the forest, but also a feared predator.
In the past, the bear was revered so that its real name could not be said out loud. It was feared that the bear would hear it and come to its callers, or on the other hand know how to watch out for hunters. Therefore, countless nicknames were invented for the bear.
Many northern nations believed the bear to be their ancestor. The earliest inhabitants of Finland worshiped bears as gods and ancestors.
In northern mythology, a bear was born in heaven, in the constellation of Big Dipper.
It was believed that a bear would never die, but its spirit would live forever.