Sukusendal In Finnish mythology, a nightmare spirit who has sexual intercourse with people while they sleep, appearing as a person of the opposite sex. Sometimes it replaces rightful children with changelings. To protect children, mothers placed a pair of scissors or some iron object in the cradle; this made the spirit unable to do evil. If a person went to the bathhouse late at night, however, he or she might be killed by the Sukusendal.
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, Third Edition – Written by Anthony S. Mercatante & James R. Dow– Copyright © 2009 by Anthony S. Mercatante