In Finnish mythology, Otso (also known as Karhu, Ohto, Kontio, Metsän kuningas, and Mesikämmen) is a bear, the sacred king of animals and leader of the forest.

This relationship was reflected in the ritual of Peijaiset, in which the bear spirit was symbolically returned to its family through marriage.

[6] If a bear had to be killed by ancient Finns, a sacred ritual of Peijaiset was held.

Ale was brewed and the meat of the bear was eaten as a sacred meal.

The idea of this conservation was to make it possible for the spirit of the bear to return to earth to reincarnate and be killed again.