Tag: Estonian magic

Spells and word magic in Estonian folk tradition

Published by Silver Sepp on May 14, 2026

“I bit the iron, blood gushed out.” These are blood sayings that were recorded in 1947 in the parish of Jõhvi. The village sage recited these words nine times to stop the bleeding. In this third part of a deep dive series, we look at how Estonian word magic really worked, what types of spells there were, and what specific texts have been preserved in the folklore archive.

Estonian Folklore, Witchcraft, and Magical Practices: A Complete Overview

Published by Silver Sepp on May 7, 2026

Estonians are one of the most secular people in Europe, but at the same time a nation where 47 percent of people believe that nature has a soul. In this second part of a deep dive series, we look at who Estonian wise men and witches really were, how word magic worked, what happened in the witch trials in Livonia, and why these traditions live on today.