Magiaa ennen ja nyt -Book

Description of the Product

This book is an about the multidisciplinary study of the history of magic. Please note this book is only available in Finnish!

Magic Past and Present explores the enduring role of magic in human culture — not as a relic of the past, but as something that still touches our lives today. Far from being dismissed, the scientific study of magic is currently thriving, offering new insights into age-old beliefs and practices.

This multidisciplinary book brings together the latest Finnish research on magic. It delves into a wide range of topics, from frog-related folk magic in the Savo region and early female practitioners of magic to pagan festivals, museum treatment of magical objects, and the lives of both professional shamans and everyday people who used spells in their daily lives.

Magic is a form of participation, but also a way of drawing boundaries — of defining who belongs and who does not. The book also highlights how magical worldviews have shaped social hierarchies and influenced perceptions of otherness. Special attention is given to the study of northern colonialism and witchcraft accusations. Through texts, artifacts, and images, the book traces how magical knowledge has moved and evolved across the Nordic region.

• Editors: Hukantaival, Sonja; Kouvola, Karolina; Mahlamäki, Tiina; Moine, Aleksi
• Publisher: Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura
• Paperback, 441 pages