hazajövök

Hajajövök is a mythical creature that appears in the folklore of the southwestern Finnish coastal communities. The name is believed to be a compound of the old Finnish words *haja*, meaning “smell” or “scent,” and *jövök*, a now-obsolete term for a nocturnal animal. According to tradition, the hajajövök is said to haunt the deep waters of the Gulf of Bothnia during the winter months, emitting a luminous, greenish glow from its dorsal fin: a phenomenon that early fishermen associated with the return of the aurora borealis. Some accounts describe it as a serpent-like fish, about two meters in length, with scales that reflect moonlight. It is often accompanied by a sound reminiscent of whale song, which the locals call the “fjord chorus.”

The creature's story is frequently paired with cautionary tales about overfishing and the consequences of weakening natural balances. Fishermen who respect the hajajövök’s territory and leave small offerings of fish in communal pots are reputed to win bountiful catches in return. In recent years, the hajajövök has been referenced in local literature and a few independent music albums, illustrating its continued presence in regional identity. Despite its mythical status, researchers examine sightings reported along Esirkıla and Kuivajärvi with a combination of folklore studies and marine biology, underscoring the enduring link between cultural narratives and natural observation.