Kosmogooniline hari ja selestiline kiik

Abstract

This article explores the potential connections between the well-known Kalevala-metric Estonian, Karelian, and Ingrian folk song type “Searching for the Comb” and the magical aspects of swinging, supernatural entities traversing between earth and sky in swings or cradles, ancient solar symbols and customs tied to the yearly cycle, along with motifs linked to divination. Through an examination of swinging’s significance in more distant cultures, I demonstrate that: (a) ritual swinging could be linked to creation myths, travel between worlds, the struggle against malevolent forces, and rites of fertility magic; (b) mythical swingers can be gods or symbolize them; (c) swinging could convey the transition of gods from the supernatural realm to the earthly plane and vice versa, as well as humanity’s aspiration to draw nearer to the gods; (d) swinging might affect the attainment of various benefits; (e) swinging and associated acts could also symbolically represent the movement of celestial bodies. Examples from Finno-Ugric folklore depict instances where both supernatural beings and humans traverse different realms using swings or cradles, with swinging often intertwined with practices of divination.

Keywords

• folklore
• kalevala-metric song
• mythology
• cosmogonic myths
• ritual swinging
• seasonal festivities