MIELIKKI

Mielikki, the Lady of the Forest, was the wife of Tapio and as such the Lady of the Forest, the Lady of Tapiola or the Lady of Mehtola. Tapiola and Mehtola are mythical names of the forest.

Actually it was Mielikki the hunters addressed their prayers to when they left for hunting the daily food like hares, birds or fur animals like squirrel etc.

This lesser game was called Emon viljat, The game of the Lady. The king Tapio was for the big game only, like bear and elk.

Sometimes Mielikki was also called The Sharer Maid, Osatyttö according to the way she, unpredictably, shared the game to the hunters.

The word Mielikki can be derived to the Finnish word meaning favourable.