The name Metsaema translates to "forest mother" in Estonian (from metsa "forest" and ema "mother"). For this reason, the word metsaema can also be used as a descriptor of other similar deities in Eastern European mythology, for example Vir'ava.[1]
Mythology
The mother of the forest acts as ruler and guardian.[2] She is sometimes also connected with fertility, acting as a midwife in some texts.[3] Forest spirits are said to be found in each forest, ruling over the animals, birds, trees, and berries.[4] Wild animals such as bears, snakes and wolves are commonly connected with them across European mythologies.[5]
The shared elements of Finnic, Slavic, Baltic and Turkic mythology can be seen in similarities between forest mother spirits. Metsaema has strong similarities with the forest mother spirits Vir'ava, from Mordven mythology, and Meža mate, from Latvian mythology. Other related deities are the Lithuanian goddess of the forest and animals, Medeina, and the Finnish goddess of the forest, Mielikki.
Mother deities are prevalent in early Estonian and Latvian mythology (called Mātes in Latvian).[6][7] Forest spirits in Estonian mythology are most often female, as can be seen with the similar metsaneitsi, metsapiiga and metsapreili, all translating to "forest maiden".[8] This is in some contrast with Slavic mythology, where male forest spirits have the equivalent roles of protector of the forest.[9][10] Estonian mythology, however, does have both male and female forest spirits, for example Metsavana, the old man of the forest and forest father. These kinds of deities are normally seen as solitary but are linked in some Russian and Kerelian texts as husband and wife.[11]
According to Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald, straw puppets dressed alternately as Metsaema (forest mother) and Metsaisa (forest father) were used in metsiku tegemine festivals in the 17th and 18th centuries.[12] This however, may be his extrapolation due to the metsa etymological link, as there is no other written evidence of these names being used to describe the puppets.[13]
^Jurtšenkova, Niina (2011). "Naisjumalatest soome-ugri rahvaste mütoloogias". Mäetagused (in Estonian). 47: 122. doi:10.7592/mt2011.47.jurtshenkova. ISSN 1406-992X.
^Motz, Lotte (1997). The Faces of the Goddess. UK: Oxford University Press. p. 48.
^Yurchenkova, Nina (2011). "About Female Deities in the Mythology of Finno-Ugric Peoples". Folklore: Electronic Journal of Folklore. 47: 178. doi:10.7592/fejf2011.47.yurchenkova.
^Gustaf, Lofstedt, Torsten Martin (1993). Russian legends about forest spirits in the context of northern European mythology. University of California, Berkeley. p. 125. OCLC 892822507.
^Paulson, Ivar (1965). "Outline of Permian Folk Religion". Journal of the Folklore Institute. 2 (2): 163. doi:10.2307/3813832. JSTOR 3813832.
^"Mātes". Latviešu folklora (in Latvian). 2012-10-18. from the original on 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
^Lurker, Manfred (2004-08-02). The Routledge Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses, Devils and Demons. Routledge. p. 124. doi:10.4324/9780203643518. ISBN978-0-203-64351-8.
^Gustaf, Lofstedt, Torsten Martin (1993). Russian legends about forest spirits in the context of northern European mythology. University of California, Berkeley. p. 61. OCLC 892822507.
^Gustaf, Lofstedt, Torsten Martin (1993). Russian legends about forest spirits in the context of northern European mythology. University of California, Berkeley. pp. 59–60. OCLC 892822507.
^Paulson, Ivar (1965). "Outline of Permian Folk Religion". Journal of the Folklore Institute. 2 (2): 162–165. doi:10.2307/3813832. JSTOR 3813832.
^Gustaf, Lofstedt, Torsten Martin (1993). Russian legends about forest spirits in the context of northern European mythology. University of California, Berkeley. p. 62. OCLC 892822507.
^Kreutzwald, Friedrich Reinhold (1854). Der Ehsten abergläubische Gebräuche, Weisen und Gewohnheiten, mit auf die ... (in German). Oxford University. p. 81.
^Västrik, Ergo-Hart (1998). "Clothed Straw Puppets in Estonian Folk Calendar Tradition: a Shift From Cult to Joke". Folklore: Electronic Journal of Folklore (7): 3.
^"Metsaema (mänd) (KLO4000688)". EELIS (Estonian Nature Information System-Environmental Register) (in Estonian). Retrieved 2021-05-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"EUNIS -Site factsheet for Metsaema (mänd)". eunis.eea.europa.eu. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
January 13, 2023
metsaema, mother, spirit, forest, estonian, mythology, pine, 2011etymology, editthe, name, translates, forest, mother, estonian, from, metsa, forest, mother, this, reason, word, metsaema, also, used, descriptor, other, similar, deities, eastern, european, myth. Metsaema is the mother spirit of the forest in Estonian mythology Metsaema pine 2011Etymology EditThe name Metsaema translates to forest mother in Estonian from metsa forest and ema mother For this reason the word metsaema can also be used as a descriptor of other similar deities in Eastern European mythology for example Vir ava 1 Mythology EditThe mother of the forest acts as ruler and guardian 2 She is sometimes also connected with fertility acting as a midwife in some texts 3 Forest spirits are said to be found in each forest ruling over the animals birds trees and berries 4 Wild animals such as bears snakes and wolves are commonly connected with them across European mythologies 5 The shared elements of Finnic Slavic Baltic and Turkic mythology can be seen in similarities between forest mother spirits Metsaema has strong similarities with the forest mother spirits Vir ava from Mordven mythology and Meza mate from Latvian mythology Other related deities are the Lithuanian goddess of the forest and animals Medeina and the Finnish goddess of the forest Mielikki Mother deities are prevalent in early Estonian and Latvian mythology called Mates in Latvian 6 7 Forest spirits in Estonian mythology are most often female as can be seen with the similar metsaneitsi metsapiiga and metsapreili all translating to forest maiden 8 This is in some contrast with Slavic mythology where male forest spirits have the equivalent roles of protector of the forest 9 10 Estonian mythology however does have both male and female forest spirits for example Metsavana the old man of the forest and forest father These kinds of deities are normally seen as solitary but are linked in some Russian and Kerelian texts as husband and wife 11 According to Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald straw puppets dressed alternately as Metsaema forest mother and Metsaisa forest father were used in metsiku tegemine festivals in the 17th and 18th centuries 12 This however may be his extrapolation due to the metsa etymological link as there is no other written evidence of these names being used to describe the puppets 13 The Metsaema mand Forest Mother Pine is an historic protected pine tree in Viljandi Parish Viljandi County Estonia 14 15 References Edit Jurtsenkova Niina 2011 Naisjumalatest soome ugri rahvaste mutoloogias Maetagused in Estonian 47 122 doi 10 7592 mt2011 47 jurtshenkova ISSN 1406 992X Motz Lotte 1997 The Faces of the Goddess UK Oxford University Press p 48 Yurchenkova Nina 2011 About Female Deities in the Mythology of Finno Ugric Peoples Folklore Electronic Journal of Folklore 47 178 doi 10 7592 fejf2011 47 yurchenkova Gustaf Lofstedt Torsten Martin 1993 Russian legends about forest spirits in the context of northern European mythology University of California Berkeley p 125 OCLC 892822507 Paulson Ivar 1965 Outline of Permian Folk Religion Journal of the Folklore Institute 2 2 163 doi 10 2307 3813832 JSTOR 3813832 Mates Latviesu folklora in Latvian 2012 10 18 Archived from the original on 2012 10 18 Retrieved 2021 05 21 Lurker Manfred 2004 08 02 The Routledge Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses Devils and Demons Routledge p 124 doi 10 4324 9780203643518 ISBN 978 0 203 64351 8 Gustaf Lofstedt Torsten Martin 1993 Russian legends about forest spirits in the context of northern European mythology University of California Berkeley p 61 OCLC 892822507 Gustaf Lofstedt Torsten Martin 1993 Russian legends about forest spirits in the context of northern European mythology University of California Berkeley pp 59 60 OCLC 892822507 Paulson Ivar 1965 Outline of Permian Folk Religion Journal of the Folklore Institute 2 2 162 165 doi 10 2307 3813832 JSTOR 3813832 Gustaf Lofstedt Torsten Martin 1993 Russian legends about forest spirits in the context of northern European mythology University of California Berkeley p 62 OCLC 892822507 Kreutzwald Friedrich Reinhold 1854 Der Ehsten aberglaubische Gebrauche Weisen und Gewohnheiten mit auf die in German Oxford University p 81 Vastrik Ergo Hart 1998 Clothed Straw Puppets in Estonian Folk Calendar Tradition a Shift From Cult to Joke Folklore Electronic Journal of Folklore 7 3 Metsaema mand KLO4000688 EELIS Estonian Nature Information System Environmental Register in Estonian Retrieved 2021 05 18 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link EUNIS Site factsheet for Metsaema mand eunis eea europa eu Retrieved 2021 05 18 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Metsaema amp oldid 1087556183, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
