Päivätär
| Päivätär | |
|---|---|
Luonnotar of the Sun | |
| Other names | Ingria: Päivytär, Päivätaari, Päivätoori, Päivötär Kainuu: Auringotar, Päivytär Karelia: Auringotar, Päivitär, Päivytär, Päivötär Ostrobothnia: Auringotar |
| Animals | Bees and wasps |
| Color | Silver |
| Gender | Female |
| Ethnic group | Finns, Karelians |
| Offspring | Panu (fire) |
| Equivalents | |
| Baltic | Saulė |
Päivätär (pronounced [ˈpæi̯ʋætær]; lit. 'Lady Sun') is the goddess of the Sun in Finnish mythology. She owns the silver of the Sun, spins silver yarns, and weaves clothes out of them.
Professor Anna-Leena Siikala finds it possible that Päivätär was a goddess who ruled over life and light. During Christian period, she was replaced by Virgin Mary. According to her, Kuutar and Päivätär belong to a tradition that was influenced by Baltic mythology.