Christfried Ganander

Christfried[a] Ganander (21 November 1741 in Haapajärvi – 17 February 1790 in Rantsila) was a Finnish compiler of folk culture, a priest and lexicographer.

Ganander's greatest achievement was the compilation of the first fully extensive Finnish-language dictionary which was, however, unpublished.

His most well-known published work is Mythologia Fennica in 1789, a reference book of folk religion.

Ganander was born in Haapajärvi in 1741, to chaplain Thomas Ganader and his wife Helena Hiden.

While studying, he became influenced by the natural sciences and became interested in the notion of Finnishness of Henrik Gabriel Porthan.