The devil on Mount Kakon
The legend of Mount Kakon
On Mount Kakon (Finnish: Kakonvuori), near Savonranta, lies a deep hollow where, according to an old local legend, the devil once lived.
The devil was said to leap onto church boats, overturn them and steal the churchgoers’ lunches. Somewhere near Mount Kakon, he also kept a hidden treasure, carefully guarded from anyone who dared to search for it.
Kakonsalo in Savonranta was once famous for its stories about the devil. The dark and mysterious Mount Kakon stirred people’s imaginations, for it was widely believed — some even claimed to know — that the devil lived there and had dealings with Tölkki-Tanninen, a man who lived near the mountain.
Even today, the mountain’s sinister reputation makes some women reluctant to venture there, and the area is not particularly popular with people picking berries alone. The harsh cawing of a crow on Mount Kakon is said to evoke an uneasy feeling.
More stories about the devil were associated with Tölkki-Tanninen’s house than with any other dwelling in Savonranta. The house still stands today. Its occupants have changed, and the devils have long since departed, but the stories remain.
Nearby lies Lake Vuokalanjärvi, once known for its plentiful fish. Groups of fishermen worked late into the night, hauling in their seine nets. One evening, after finishing their work, a group decided to spend the night at Tanninen’s house. They knew of its reputation, of course, but they were tired and perhaps a little curious. They found a place to lie down on the floor.
The men had barely closed their eyes when a terrible commotion began. Doors slammed so violently that their hinges creaked. Stools and tables crashed to the floor, while a furious whirlwind hurled objects against the walls. The entire house shook, and the terrified fishermen did not sleep a wink.
News of their frightening experience spread throughout Savonranta. Gradually, the secret of Mount Kakon began to emerge.
It turned out that Tölkki-Tanninen had discovered a hoard of gold coins hidden by the devil on Mount Kakon. The devil had stolen the money from the Russian emperor. Tanninen hid his discovery in a birch-bark container, but the devil became furious and began tormenting him.
At night, the devil would burst into Tanninen’s house, making a tremendous racket and dancing on the table. During the day, he would dance in the hayfield. On one occasion, he even carried the family’s daughter off to Devil’s Mountain, where she was forced to perform numerous tricks demanded by the devil before she was allowed to leave.
Tölkki-Tanninen came up with a clever plan. He exchanged the gold coins for silver ones, receiving a large, jingling pile in return. The devil understood how to count coins, but had no idea of their value. Tanninen therefore gave him the same number of silver coins as there had been gold coins.
Tanninen’s son took the deception even further, exchanging the silver coins for copper ones. The number of coins remained unchanged, and that, of course, pleased the devil.
But sometimes the devil’s calculations did not add up, and he became enraged.
One day, after discovering such a discrepancy, the devil came to demand an explanation from Tölkki-Tanninen. The household was working in the hayfield when a violent whirlwind suddenly swept across it. The freshly stacked hay, together with its drying poles, was scattered everywhere.
From the mountain came the devil’s deep, booming voice:
“Tölkki, come and account for yourself — at once!”
There was nothing Tanninen could do. Frightened and submissive, he hurried through the undergrowth towards Devil’s Mountain.
Days passed, but he did not return. His family grew increasingly anxious, needing him to help with the haymaking, but the devil refused to let him go.
It was not until late summer that Tanninen finally emerged from the mountain. He was gloomy and silent, a troubled man who could find peace neither by day nor by night.
The devil also frequently appeared to his servant in the form of a crow. Tanninen could recognise the devil’s crow among all the others. Whenever it appeared in the yard, he would immediately hurry towards Mount Kakon.
When the devil was particularly angry with Tanninen, he would burst into the house like a whirlwind. Doors slammed, and benches and tables spun through the air. Tanninen then had no choice but to run to Mount Kakon to settle matters with his terrifying master.
Old tales also speak of a pact between the devil and Tölkki-Tanninen, something resembling a business arrangement. Even the mistress of the house, burdened by poverty and worries, was said to have entered into an agreement with the devil.
The power of the old woman
One of the legends of Mount Kakon tells of an old woman who lived on the mountain and was believed to possess mysterious powers.
She could cure many illnesses with remedies made from plants she gathered in the surrounding countryside. She was also known to practise magic and witchcraft.
One day, the old woman cast a spell over her neighbour’s cow, hiding it from human sight. People searched everywhere for the animal, but without success. The woman had concealed it so effectively that nobody could see it, even when walking right past it.
This time, however, the old woman made a mistake. She was supposed to release the cow from the spell the following night, but she forgot.
Suddenly, a violent whirlwind swept down from Mount Kakon, carried the old woman across the lake and deposited her in a hollow in the mountain.
When pitiful cries were heard coming from the mountain, a group of men went to investigate.
They found the old woman lying naked in a rocky hollow, her clothes torn to shreds.
The missing cow was discovered that very same day, standing by the gate of its home farm.
Source: Aini Rössi, Kotiseutumme värikuvina: Heinävesi, Savonranta, Enonkoski.
Coordinates: 6905450 N, 604523 E
