DLTK's Fairy Tale Activities
The Swan of Tuonela
Once upon a time, in a faraway land called Finland, there was a magical place called Tuonela. Tuonela was a dark and mysterious realm, where the spirits of the dead lived. In the middle of Tuonela, there was a beautiful, dark river. And on that river, there was a magical swan. This swan was the guardian of Tuonela and was known as the Swan of Tuonela.
One day, a young hero named Lemminkäinen heard about the Swan of Tuonela. He wanted to prove his bravery, so he decided to go on a daring adventure to capture the swan. He said goodbye to his family and friends and began his journey.
Lemminkäinen traveled through forests, over mountains, and across rivers to reach the edge of Tuonela. He found a boat and rowed quietly into the dark realm. The river was calm and still, and the Swan of Tuonela floated gracefully upon it.
As Lemminkäinen approached the swan, he realized how beautiful and magical it was. He felt a strange connection to the creature and decided that he didn't want to harm it. Instead, he wanted to protect it and the realm of Tuonela.
Lemminkäinen stayed in Tuonela, watching over the swan and the spirits of the dead. He learned many wise lessons from the swan and became a kind and gentle guardian. The people of Finland heard about Lemminkäinen's journey and his decision to protect the Swan of Tuonela. They began to tell his story, teaching everyone about the importance of kindness, bravery, and protecting the things we love.
And so, the story of Lemminkäinen and the Swan of Tuonela became a beloved Finnish folktale that would be shared for generations to come.
Printable version of this story
