Tradition: Finnish Mythology
Alternative Names: Metelyäinen, Metelyaiset, Munkkilainen, Metelijäiset
Category: Giant
The Myth
The Meteläinen are enormous giants from Karelian folklore, renowned for their immense size and the incredible noise they make as they move through the forest. Their name is associated with the Finnish word meteli, meaning “noise,” reflecting the disturbance caused by their movements.
According to legend, the Meteläinen lived in Karelia many centuries ago. They were also known as Munkkilainen or Metelyäinen and were distinguished by their enormous stature. As they moved through the forests, they produced such tremendous noise that their presence could be recognized from afar.
The giants were believed to have inhabited areas later occupied by the Lapps and Finns. Although they eventually disappeared, people continued to find enormous bones, ploughs, and boulders that were attributed to them. These remains were regarded as evidence of the giants’ former existence, although their precise origins and purposes remained unknown.
Sources
“Metelilyaineny.” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). https://www.bestiary.us/metelilyaineny