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Otso, a MythSource painting
Finnic

Otso

01Identity

Otso in Finnic tradition

In Crawford's 1891 Kalevala, Otso is the named bear at the centre of a hunt, welcome and feast. Wainamoinen finds him and invites him towards Wainola, where the people greet him as a guest. A meal of bear meat is prepared. The narrative also gives an origin for Otso, describing how a woman cradles him among pine branches and how he grows in the forest. Wainamoinen sings about the hunt and asks that the people may feast with Otso again. These details belong to this literary account and do not establish a wider cult or supernatural status for bears.

SourceThe Kalevala, Volume II (John Martin Crawford translation, 1891): Otso the Honey-Eater (Rune XLVI), pp. 661, 664–666, 669, 671, 673–675, 678

  • Otso is the named bear welcomed by Wainamoinen and the people of Wainola in this episode. (The Kalevala, Volume II (John Martin Crawford translation, 1891))
Top questions

The quick answers

  • Who is Otso?

    In Crawford's 1891 Kalevala, Otso is the named bear at the centre of a hunt, welcome and feast.
02The myths

The myths of Otso

1 myth, with sources recorded for each.

Otso's hunt, return and feast

Louhi drove a bear from the forest and mountain towards Wainola's cattle and flocks. Wainamoinen later found Otso in his den and praised Ukko for giving him the bear. He inspected the bear's coat and marvelled at its broad paws. He welcomed Otso towards Wainola, inviting the forest guest to a couch and offering food. Wainamoinen called to the people that a forest guest was approaching. They answered with a welcome, receiving Otso as a valued visitor from the woodland. At the feast, cooking vessels hung over the fire and bear meat was served at the tables.

Tellervo had guided Wainamoinen towards Otso's den, marking the way through the woods. Otso's fall ended against the branches and injured his chest. Wainamoinen loosened the bear's teeth and claws. His closing song asked Ukko that people might feast with Otso again and that notches in trees would help guide them to bear dens.

Otso's hunt, return and feast, a MythSource painting of the scene

10 sources· checked 2026-09-28

  1. 1The Kalevala, Volume II (John Martin Crawford translation, 1891)T1
  2. 2The Kalevala, Volume II (John Martin Crawford translation, 1891)T1
  3. 3The Kalevala, Volume II (John Martin Crawford translation, 1891)T1
  4. 4The Kalevala, Volume II (John Martin Crawford translation, 1891)T1
  5. 5The Kalevala, Volume II (John Martin Crawford translation, 1891)T1
  6. 6The Kalevala, Volume II (John Martin Crawford translation, 1891)T1
  7. 7The Kalevala, Volume II (John Martin Crawford translation, 1891)T1
  8. 8The Kalevala, Volume II (John Martin Crawford translation, 1891)T1
  9. 9The Kalevala, Volume II (John Martin Crawford translation, 1891)T1
  10. 10The Kalevala, Volume II (John Martin Crawford translation, 1891)T1