Most people are familiar with the Salem Witch Trials, but not many with the Finnish Witch Trials. The witch trials took places between 1520 – 1750. Finland, then a part of Sweden, was known for it’s large population of practicing witches. Both male and female, as shown in the photos before, were put to trial with over 1,200 convictions.

A woman using magic to make her cows return from the forest (Taivalkoski, 1917)

Wise woman Miron-Aku scrying

Grandmother Lasanen treating an illness caused by the spirits (Taivalkoski, 1917)

Healer Anni-Pulkki (Kontiolahti, 1911)

Wise man Pekka Hämäläinen (Salmi, 1936)

Hilda Leskinen performing cupping therapy (Maaninka, 1927)

Wise man (Temmes, 1911)

Masseuse Liena massaging a woman in the sauna (Iitti, 1927)

Wise man Pekka Rissanen sacrificing silver to a spring (Maaninka, 1927)

Blood-letting (Karunki, 1921)

Anni Rissanen casting a spell (Maaninka, 1920s)

Otto Jääskeläinen treating an illness caused by the spirits (Maaninka, 1927)

Healer Rotikko-Pekka treating an infected wound (Maaninka, 1927)

Serafia Vehkamäki making medicine (Kyyjärvi, 1956)

A girl scrying with a mirror (Paavola, 1907-1923)

Wise woman and rune singer Haapas-Mari (Uusikirkko, 1909)

Images sourced from “Old Photos of Finnish witches” by PastStuff