Karelian Death Spirits – Glimpses into the Dark History of South Karelia
South Karelia Museum, Lappeenranta
- 24.10.2026–4.4.2027
Why is the horse unable to pull the hearse? What are ristimännyt (cross-marked trees), piiskuupetäjät whipping pines) or umpipuut (intergrown trees)? Where the wolf witch was burned and who was taken away by the white ferry of death?
The exhibition Karelian Death Spirits (Karjalaista kalmanväkeä) offers a haunting journey into the dark history of South Karelia. Through stories, objects, and photographs it explores beliefs and rituals related to death, peeks into gloomy cemeteries, confronts madness and epidemics, introduces witches and wise men, and examines crimes and the punishments once given out in towns and marketplaces. At the heart of the exhibition are ghost stories and folk beliefs passed down through generations. Learn about the famous Maironniemi Devil, which stirred up chaos in 1888 in Laurinmäki House, Parikkala. Meet the Grey Lady who roams the halls of Imatra State Hotel, the officer’s wife who rides a pale horse in Taavetti Fortress, and the ghostly hearse drawn by a horse near the Korvenkanta underpass in Rauha. These local tales reflect the worldview of their time and bring to life events of the past and the cultural environment in which people lived.
Exhibition is closed 6.12., 23.-26.12., 31.12., 1.1.2027, 26.-29.3.2027.
Share this with your friends!
Museum exhibitions
Osana kulttuurikierrosta
Museum contact details
South Karelia Museum
Kristiinankatu 15, 53900 Lappeenranta
040 130 9218
Yhteydet julkisilla
Näytä reitti museolle Matkahuollon reittioppaassa
Katso reitti Matkahuollon reittioppaassa
Päämäärä:
South Karelia Museum, Kristiinankatu 15, 53900 Lappeenranta
Lähtöpiste:
Admission fees
Pääsymaksut 12/9/0 €
Payment methods
Käteinen, useimmat luotto- ja debit-kortit.
Opening hours
| Mon | Closed |
| Tue | 11:00-17:00 |
| Wed | 11:00-17:00 |
| Thu | 11:00-17:00 |
| Fri | 11:00-17:00 |
| Sat | 11:00-17:00 |
| Sun | 11:00-17:00 |
OPEN 2.1.-31.5. and 18.8.-30.12. Tue-Sun 11-17, 1.6.-16.8. Mon-Fri 10-18, Sat-Sun 11-17 CLOSED 1.1., 3.-6.4., 30.4.-1.5., 14.5., 19.-20.6., 6.12., 23.-26.12. and 31.12.