Othala - Kalmuneiu

In the ancient tales of the Estonians, there lived Kalmuneiu — the mysterious maiden of the graves, whose duty was to guide the souls of the departed on their final journey. Her name, derived from the words "kalm" meaning grave, and "neiu" meaning maiden, signified the "maiden of the graves," the guardian of the boundary between the world of the living and the realm of shadows.

Kalmuneiu was not malevolent, but her image was always shrouded in a veil of sorrow and mystery. As night fell, she would silently walk the paths leading from the graves to the unknown lands where souls would find peace. The wise elders said that when a person passed away, Kalmuneiu would gently take them by the hand and guide them through misty forests, across rivers and swamps, to the place where silence gave way to eternal rest.

Her presence was felt in every cemetery: the graves were always under her protection, and none but those whom she allowed could disturb the peace of the buried. Kalmuneiu guarded these sacred grounds, ensuring that the world of the living would not encroach upon the world of the dead.

People revered her, knowing she meant no harm, but they also knew not to show disrespect to the graves and the memory of ancestors. She symbolized the connection with those who had passed, the quiet keeper of the boundary between the two worlds, where the same ancient songs echoed, filled with wisdom and eternity.