Peijaiset (in dialectal forms peijahaiset, peijaat or peijaajaiset)[1] is a Finnish concept, dating to pre-Christian times, denoting a memorial feast (akin to a wake) that was held to honour a slain animal, particularly the bear, the animal most sacred to ancient Finns.
It may also be used in a figurative sense, denoting any memorial held for things that have come to an end ("peijaiset" over e.g. bankrupt companies).
In eastern Finland, it would have copious mourners and wailers, and the people would address the bear as a relative, or the son of a god.
Its flesh was not eaten, which would have been cannibalism, or, if it was, an elaborate show was made to symbolically render the meat into that of another animal such as venison.
[citation needed] Similar customs have been reported from many other northern people who share their habitat with bears.