The Liekkiö (Flamey) are spirits of murdered children who have been buried in the woods. Liekki in Finnish means flame.
Other names for the creature are ihtiriekko or äpärä (bastard). Often it is a child born out of wedlock. They haunt at their dying place as long as they would have lived had they not been murdered.
The Liekkiö can be invisible or take the form of a child, a flame, a bird or other animal. They scream, laugh, imitate everything you say, cry about their situation and ask for help in changing their fate.
Read more about Liekkiö and other restless dead in Finnish mythology and folklore in
The Finnish Book of the Dead: Gods, Spirits and Creatures of the Underworld in Finnish Mythology and Folklore by Tiina Porthan and Tero Porthan, available on Amazon. Available as paperback and e-book.
E-book:
PLEASE NOTE! All art on this site © Tero Porthan and text © Tiina Porthan. Artist’s name must always be mentioned alongside with the picture, as well as a link to artist’s page:
Instagram tag: @teroporthan
https://www.instagram.com/teroporthan
https://www.deviantart.com/teroporthan
Finnish Mythology Illustrated 