Thoughts on Anna Dressed in Blood Part 1
In Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood there is a moment where a witch lady calls on “Hiisi, Father, demon-god,” and I immediately went into Should I Be Offended Research Mode. Annnnnnnd.... I have thoughts. And opinions. These are based on some quick research as well as pulling from the Finnish/Suomi religious/folklore tradition research I did a few years back.
- Hiisi were, back in the pre-Christian days, tree/hill land spirits. As far as I can tell they were similar to the Icelandic/Norwegian landvaettir. Or, may have been similar to the Roman lares (before they were associated with the Greek agathos daimon and attached to homes).
- Hiisi were later associated as trickster-like beings and show up in the Kalevala as, according to my reading of the text, powers of nature. It reminds me of how brigid became a widely used term for various minor goddesses in the Irish/Gaelic traditions.
- Hiisi were also later associated with the folklore traditions of goblins and giants.
- Hiisi were demonized by Christianity.
- Hiisi are STILL being demonized, down through the ages, to Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood.
I know horror has a long tradition of being all mixed up with religion for Reasons (I read a book about it) BUT I am tired of seeing the appropriation of traditional non-monotheistic religions used as the Scary Evil Bad Guys. It’s a continuation of Western/Christian Colonialism bound up in heteronormative patriarchal bullshit and I’m So Tired Of It. I’d really like to NOT have to face polytheist-hate (however unintentional or subdued) when I’m reading for fun.