Der Kuckuck in den Glaubensvorstellungen der Saamen

• Published in: Finnisch-Ugrische Forschungen
• Main Author: Bartens, Hans-Hermann
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: German
• Published: Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura / Société Finno-Ougrienne / Finno-Ugrian Society / Finnisch-Ugrische Gesellschaft 2022
• Subjects: Sámi folklore; folk believe; birds of omen; cuckoo; saami
• Online Access: https://journal.fi/fuf/article/view/115495; https://doi.org/10.33339/fuf.115495

The desire to be able to look into the future and thus be prepared for what it holds, can be achieved, according to folk beliefs, by observing animals, including birds. The Saami materials scrutinized for this work mention approximately sixty different bird species which have some kind of function as an omen. The most important among them is the cuckoo, both as far as the number of mentions is concerned as well as its diffusion throughout the Saami area, which, however, does not appear to extend to the easternmost traditional areas. This observation also applies to the other bird species. As birds also hold this function in Scandinavian and Finnish tradition, the postulate that we are dealing with a shared tradition seems justified. A systematic comparison of the distinct traditions is not the aim of this paper. Nevertheless, the comparisons made reveal common features among which, however, aspects specific to the Saami area can be discerned. The cuckoo has traditionally been one of the most feared birds. Its relationship with humans was mostly unidirectional: the cuckoo is in command while man is exposed to the magical powers of the bird. Folklore holds information on how to undo this harmful influence; in addition to warnings, there are concrete recommendations on how to counter it. There are also tales of humans simply being exposed to such influence. The harm done usually affected daily chores, but especially in the northern Saami region it could impact on a personʼs very life. Nonetheless, there are also examples of a positive relationship between bird and man such as the cuckoo’s tree. In this specific tradition, the cuckoo is again in charge, but there is genuine interaction between man and the animal. The desire to be able to look into the future and thus be prepared for what it holds, can be achieved, according to folk beliefs, by observing animals, including birds. The Saami materials scrutinized for this work mention approximately sixty different bird species which have some kind of function as an ...