Lupercalia, A mid-February fertility and purification rite held on February 13–15 in honor of Faunus (the Roman god of agriculture) and the legendary founders Romulus and Remus. Priests (Luperci) sacrificed goats and a dog, then struck bystanders—especially women—with strips of goat hide to promote fertility and ease childbirth. Though not about romantic love, the festival’s themes of fertility and pairing later helped it merge with Christian traditions. By the 1400s, European nobles exchanged love notes or “valentines.” Surviving examples include a 1415 letter from Charles, Duke of Orléans, to his wife while imprisoned in the Tower of London.

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Jack Frost is a personification of winter’s chill in Northern European and later American folklore. He’s not tied to a single mythological tradition but emerges from old tales of frost sprites and winter spirits.,Often shown as a mischievous young man or sprite who paints frost on windows, nips noses and toes, and brings crisp cold air. In Victorian-era poetry and 19th-century children’s stories, he became a playful trickster. In European folklore, fairies (or fae) are nature spirits tied to seasons. Winter fairies embody frost, snow, and the hush of the cold months. They’re usually described as delicate, icy-winged beings who dance on snowflakes, freeze dewdrops, or guard the quiet of winter woods. Anne Boleyn was Henry VIII’s second wife and the mother of Queen Elizabeth I. She was executed at the Tower of London in 1536 on charges of treason and adultery.

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The Frozen films draw significant inspiration from the culture, landscape, and traditions of the Sámi people, the Indigenous inhabitants of northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia’s Kola Peninsula. Elements such as the snowy mountain setting of Arendelle, the reindeer herder Kristoff, and the mystical depiction of nature spirits reflect Sámi livelihoods and shamanic beliefs. For Frozen II, Disney worked with Sámi cultural experts to respectfully portray themes of elemental spirits, the enchanted forest, and the Northuldra people, which echo Sámi mythology and their deep spiritual connection to the natural world.

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In Lapland the reindeer god was worshiped by everyone, for the reindeer was not only a creature of survival but also a bridge between worlds. Its antlers, branching like frozen trees, were said to catch the whispers of the northern lights, carrying prayers from the earth to the heavens. Families would gather in the long winter nights to tell stories of how the god first gifted reindeer to humankind, teaching them how to follow their migrations across the tundra, how to clothe themselves in warm hides, and how to walk gently across the snow.

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In Finnish traditional belief, Väki is a rich and layered concept that blends animism, folk magic, and an older worldview where every place, element, and being carries its own power. Here’s a concise overview:

• Väki literally means people, folk, or crowd, but in folklore it also refers to an invisible force or collective spirit.
• It is both the power itself and the entities embodying that power.

Finnish animistic thought sees the natural world as alive and morally charged. Different realms have their own väki:

• Metsän väki – the “folk of the forest,” the forest’s own living force and spirit beings.
• Veden väki – the power of waters, rivers, lakes, and their spirits.
• Tulen väki – the force of fire.
• Rautaväki – the spirit of iron or metal.

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Autumn time included multiple festivals in ancient Finland, mostly related with the harvest. Mikonpäivä, Kekri, and other celebrations marked the turning of the year, blending agricultural cycles with spiritual practices. Mikonpäivä (St. Michael’s Day), celebrated around the end of September, became significant during the Christian period but retained older agrarian customs. It marked the end of summer work, the bringing in of cattle from pastures, and the beginning of autumn tasks. In some regions, it was also considered a time for fairs, hiring new workers, and trading goods.

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he bull stands as a symbol of enduring strength, fertility, and devotion. For the ancients, Taurus represented the fertile fields, the season of planting, and the eternal bond between earth and sky. The constellation of Gemini reflects the myth of Castor and Pollux, the inseparable twin brothers. Born of the same mother, but different fathers, one was mortal (Castor) and the other divine (Pollux). Virgo is often linked with Demeter and Persephone, or with Astraea, the Star Maiden. Astraea, daughter of Zeus and Themis, was the last immortal to live among humans during the Golden Age. Together, Taurus, Gemini, and Virgo remind us of the great arc of human life: the grounding of the body (Taurus), the curiosity of the mind (Gemini), and the discernment of the spirit (Virgo).

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Norse mythology: The Vikings believed the aurora was the reflection of Valkyries’ armor as they guided fallen warriors to Valhalla—symbolizing honor, bravery, and the afterlife.

Sámi people (Indigenous to Lapland): The lights were treated with reverence and awe. Whistling at them was forbidden, as it could summon danger. They symbolized spirits of the dead or divine energy.

Inuit traditions: Some groups believed the aurora represented souls playing games in the sky, while others saw them as spirits of animals like seals, whales, or deer.

Fairychamber's Witching Hour is created by Niina Niskanen.

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