Haltija

In Finnish mythology, a haltija is a supernatural inhabitant of a specific place and a protector of living beings, living in an invisible environment but can show themself to humans. A haltija could be the supernatural original inhabitant and guardian of a place or the original mother of an animal species. A person who died and was buried to their home could also become a haltija. A haltija of a locality is a solitary creature who protects their home, its nature and peace. A haltija of an animal species protects their continued existence by returning dead animals back to earth.

Deity-like figures in Finnish mythology are often described as jumala and/or haltija. Risto Pulkkinen described a jumala as a being who rules over a wider concept, such as water, while a haltija is more localized, ruling over a specific body of water. According to him, there is only a small number of beings in Finnish paganism which could be called jumala, but a wide variety of haltija beings. Thus, a haltija is a ruler of a domain smaller than a god's.