Joukahainen (Youkahainen) (genius of ice and snow?) In the Finnish epic poem The Kalevala, an evil youth who entered into a contest with Vainamoinen and was defeated. Hearing that the culture hero Vainamoinen was noted for his magic songs, Joukahainen, against his parents’ wishes, challenged him to a singing contest. They questioned one another, asking who was present at the creation of the world. Joukahainen answered that he had been. Vainamoinen replied that Joukahainen was a liar. This so enraged the youth that he challenged Vainamoinen to a fight, but the culture hero sang magic songs that made Joukahainen sink into a swamp. Fearing he would die, Joukahainen offered Vainamoinen his sister Aino as a wife, and the hero released him. Joukahainen returned home to his farm angry, telling Joukola, his mother, what had happened, but she was pleased that her daughter was to wed Vainamoinen. Joukahainen, however, continued to nurture a hatred against Vainamoinen. Once he lay in wait for him on his journey to Pohjola, the Northland, and shot at him, killing Vainamoinen’s horse. Vainamoinen fell into the water and was driven out to sea by a tempest. Joukahainen rejoiced, thinking he at last had overcome Vainamoinen. However, the culture hero was not destroyed. Joukahainen is often called Jouko, a shortened form of his name.

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Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, Third Edition – Written by Anthony S. Mercatante & James R. Dow– Copyright © 2009 by Anthony S. Mercatante