"The sunlight and the moonlight fail from thee, / Another woman fashioned like as this"

[larryhammer]

Life lessons from the Kalevala:

It's no good asking a salmon to be a minstrel at your wedding, because salmon can't sing. Nor can trout, nor pike.

Boys are a better bet, as they at least can sing, if not loud enough. Ignore the talking infant by the hearth, though -- he's only speaking up to get attention.

When you are riding through the forest on a raid -- as one does -- and you hear from the bushes the lamenting of a war boat who has never been taken out on the water, it may, if asked politely, be delighted to transport you. (But not your horses.)

If you have a missing sibling you've never met, confirm the ancestry of any unknown maiden you try to seduce/youth who tries to seduce you BEFORE the seduction. Or abduction, if that's the way your culture works.

Just forget about the frickin' Sampo. Nothing good will come of it.

---L.

Comments

[rhinemouse.livejournal.com]

One of my rules for life: never EVER get romantically involved with someone until you have determined his/her (a) name, (b) parents, (c) species.

Much trouble can be avoided in this fashion.

[larryhammer]

Wise woman.

---L.

[rymenhild.livejournal.com]

Also, at the same time, make sure you know your own name, parents and species. You don't want to be surprised on these counts by your new lover or his or her friends.

[rhinemouse.livejournal.com]

Very true. Also: see if you can get an accurate list of all the people he's killed, especially if you've sworn terrible vengeance on the unknown killer of your brother/uncle/father.

[janni.livejournal.com]

This!

[incandescens]

If you suspect that you are not an entirely welcome guest at a party, make your excuses and leave politely.

[larryhammer]

I'm not sure you can generalize that one from the story: Lemminkäinen went to the party precisely BECAUSE he was not welcome.

---L.

[eighthlibrarian.livejournal.com]

Hm, true. And Lemminkainen's general behaviour would be just as improper/stupid in most mythologies/cosmologies.

[larryhammer]

Egg-zackle. Though for "improper/stupid" I'd use "jerkass."

---L.

[incandescens]

Well, yes. That is absolutely true. :)

[sovay]

Just forget about the frickin' Sampo. Nothing good will come of it.

Please use this as the first line of something.

[larryhammer]

I'll have to stick it on one of the back burners and see what simmers of it.

---L.

[sovay]

I'll have to stick it on one of the back burners and see what simmers of it.

Yay.