Tulotuhot

Tulotuhot is a traditional Finnish folk tale and a well-known character from Finnish mythology, often associated with the concept of the "evil eye" or malevolent gaze. The term *tulotuhot* translates roughly to "fire ghosts" or "fire spirits," referring to supernatural beings believed to cause misfortune, illness, or harm through envy or ill will.

In Finnish folklore, tulotuhot were thought to be invisible forces that could afflict individuals by simply looking at them with envy or jealousy. These spirits were said to thrive on negative emotions, particularly resentment, and could manifest as sudden illnesses, accidents, or other misfortunes. To protect oneself, Finns employed various rituals, such as breaking an egg over the head of a newborn to ward off evil influences or using protective charms and spells.

The belief in tulotuhot reflects broader European folklore traditions, where similar concepts like the *evil eye* (in Greek and Mediterranean cultures) or *nazar* (in Middle Eastern traditions) were feared. Unlike malevolent witches or demons, tulotuhot were not typically personified as physical entities but rather as abstract forces tied to human emotions.

While the belief in tulotuhot has largely faded with modernization, remnants of these traditions persist in Finnish cultural practices, such as the use of protective symbols and the avoidance of negative energy in daily life. The legend remains a fascinating example of how ancient societies explained misfortune through supernatural means.