Release date is 2015-03-28

Produced by Sarianna Tamminen and Tapio Riikonen

"Ihmirusuumiin substanssi suomalais-ugrilaisten kansojen taikuudessa" by Albert Hämäläinen is a scientific publication written in the early 20th century. The work offers a systematic exploration of the magical beliefs associated with the human body among Finnish-Ugric peoples, specifically drawing upon folk psychology and various collected materials. The focus is on understanding the cultural significance and traditional practices surrounding aspects of the human body, such as nails and hair, within these communities' folk magic. At the start of the text, the author outlines his intent to explore the magical practices related to human body parts among Finnish-Ugric peoples, relying on a range of folk sources. He begins with an examination of nail-cutting traditions, emphasizing the strictures and superstitions surrounding this practice, especially the belief that improperly discarded nail clippings could be used by malevolent forces. Hämäläinen details various regional customs—from the requirement to save nail clippings for afterlife use to the warnings about cutting nails on certain days. This introduction sets the stage for a comprehensive study of transient beliefs and practices tied to human anatomy and their implications for identity and spirituality among these cultures. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Original publication data not identified