The word "fate" itself does not generally appear in runosongs. Finnish mythology has no fate deities or weavers.
There is a concept of the "fated day of death". If a person died before their fated day of death, their itse soul remained in the world, hanging around as a kind of ghost until that fated day arrived.
Another word referring to fate, or rather "lot", is osa. This appears pretty much in all cases in reference to the prey that hunting gods allow for the hunter to have. Indeed, osa can also mean "portion". According to the theory of Martti Haavio, the name of Tuulikki could come from Old Norse hluti "lot, fate", although this is just a theory.
Much more central is luck. It's been said in runosongs that Jumalalla onnen ohjat "God has the reigns of luck", though this is the Christianized version of course. This phrase gets mixed up with onnen otrat "barley of Onni", "Onni" indeed meaning luck, but also referring to the mythic first sower of barley. Note: Below, "the Creator" means Yahweh specifically. Like I said, this is strongly mixed with Christianity. "Jumala" could mean different figures, such as Ukko, in runosongs, but the Creator "Luoja" is always Yahweh. Sometimes in runosongs, it is cleared up when Yahweh is being meant by calling him julkinen Jumala "public God", as in the god that you were publically allowed to worship, while the others had to be kept secret from authorities.
Area unknown but includes as well as WesternFinland incl. Ostrobothnia. Jumalall' on onnen ohjat Luojalla lykyn avaimet Vaan ei kateen kainalossa Eikä pahansuopain sormenpäissä Eikä hyvän hyppysissä Ihmiskurjan kinttahissa Jumalal on onnen ohjat Luojalla lykyn avaimet Kuin minun suuruksen suree Murhetti minun murkinani On näihin osa minunki Jumalan jyväkekohin Onnen otrahaasioihin Jumalalla on viljan juuri Luojalla lykyn avaimet Antaa kellen ajatteleepi Ei oo katehen katsomista |
God has the reigns of luck The Creator the keys to luck But they're not in the arms of kade Nor in the fingetips of those with evil intentions Nor in the hands of the good In the mittens of a poor human God has the reigns of luck The Creator the keys to luck For he grieves after my first meal Worries over my breakfast I have a part of these as well The grain piles of God The barley hayracks of Onni God has the starter of crops The Creator the keys to luck Gives to whomever he decides No use for a kade's evil eye |