I’ve never been lucky enough to see the Northern Lights, and maybe that’s why I’m so interested in aurora borealis stories from Finnish and Sámi culture. I wanted to share my favourite bits of aurora borealis folklore here – let me know which one is most intriguing to you! Aurora borealis as sparks from a […]
Sparks from a fox tail: Aurora borealis folklore in Finland Read More »
In Finland, runes aren’t what you might think. At least, not in the same way. “Runo” means “poem,” and while the word is borrowed from the Proto-Germanic word, to us it’s different than the Norse futharks1. What are “runes” in Finland, Karelia, and Estonia? Rune-singing/runolaulu is an ancient form of oral folk poetry and
Rune-singers and kantele: ancient memory and magic Read More »
One of my favourite things about Filipino food is all of the outside influences made undeniably Filipino in their interpretation. I like to use Filipino food in my writing, and it’s become a key part of my mixed-race identity too. The Philippines is made up of many different cultures and languages, and this isn’t meant
How Filipino food history nurtures my mixed-race identity Read More »
I have a short story in the first edition of Ginger & Smoke! A Filipino-Canadian first, Ginger & Smoke is a genre-blending publication reclaiming Filipino folklore, mythology and fairy tales. It became my dream publication as soon as I saw the call for submissions, and I’m grateful to Nathalie De Los Santos for broadening the
Filipino folklore story in Ginger & Smoke Read More »
Imagine an autumnal fire-crackle, song and stillness after harvest, a pause between worlds when the veil is thinnest. This time of year seems right for that sort of thing, for divination and feasting and weaving the past and future together. In Finland & Karelia, it was called Kekri. Kekri was a liminal time of harvest
Before Halloween, there was Kekri Read More »
As a kid, I was taught that certain spirits lived just beyond the edges of the path. In Filipino folklore, the nuno sa punso might curse you for disturbing its mound. In Finnish folklore, a type of haltija called a tonttu could guard your house and required certain behaviour. I grew up saying “tabi tabi
Boundary keepers & path shifters: forest spirits in Filipino & Finnish folklore Read More »
In Finno-Ugric paganism, the bear’s true name was too sacred to speak aloud, lest you attract it. It was replaced with euphemistic, respectful names instead. Finnish euphemisms for “bear” Because speaking the true name of the bear was taboo to ancient Finno-Ugric people, they used terms of endearment and euphemisms like mesikämmen (“honey-paw”,) metsän omena
The bear spirit in Finnish paganism Read More »
Why do I write historically-inspired SF/F set in societies that disregard personal autonomy? I admit, when I first noticed it I got a little concerned. Shouldn’t I be writing about dragons or something lighthearted and fun? Then I took a step back and looked at the broad strokes history of my parents’ countries of
Historical inspiration for my fantasy novel: foreign rule in Finland & the Philippines Read More »
Firstly: Happy Filipino Heritage Month! 🇵🇭 There’s an old-school style of Filipino restaurant called “turo-turo1.” The name is an example of classic Filipino word reduplicating, and stems from the word for pointing at something. They’re often located in strip malls, and the typical feature is their cafeteria-style presentation, all food laid out in warming trays
The Quiet is Loud & old Filipino restaurants Read More »
Twist the Branch (formerly Seeker of the Lost Song) is a historically-inspired fantasy novel merging medieval Finnish & pre-colonial Filipino elements, and I wanted to share two elements of Filipino history I included. Dulang, a low table One of my favourite tidbits from my research is that pre-colonial Filipinos ate at a low table, sitting
Historical inspiration for my fantasy novel: Pre-colonial Philippines Read More »
