Tradition: Finnish Mythology
Alternative Names: Ihtiriekko, Flamey
Category: Flame
The Myth
The Liekkiö is a ghostly spirit from Finnish mythology associated with the souls of children who were killed by their mothers and buried outside consecrated ground. In traditional stories, a woman who gave birth to a child outside an accepted marriage might kill the baby to avoid condemnation from the church and the surrounding community. The child was then buried without a priest’s blessing, leaving its soul unable to find peace in the afterlife.
One form of this restless spirit is called the Ihtiriekko. It is said to make terrible noises until someone discovers its buried body and gives it a proper burial in a graveyard. The spirit’s cries reveal its distress and its longing for the burial rites that were denied to it in death.
Other spirits of this kind are known as Liekkiö and may remain silent, appearing instead as mysterious flames in the forest. Like will-o’-the-wisps, these ghostly lights flicker among the trees, marking the presence of restless souls unable to find peace. Their eerie glow serves as a reminder of the neglected dead who remain trapped between the world of the living and the afterlife.
Sources
“Liekkiö.” Simple English Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liekki%C3%B6