Hello, Morwen. The Mudcat is often quite sluggish on weekends. Now that it's Monday morning, at least in some parts of the world, perhaps AKS will get back to you.

As for me, I am now thoroughly confused by Karelia, Kalova, Karjala, Kullervo and Kalevala. However, one thing seems clear to me. If you wish to make a modern tale from the story of the adopted and unwanted boy, you have to re-write the savage ending. In a modern tale, the evil mother would have put the stone in the bread while under the influence of alcohol. You would write in some drinking buddies who cackle with evil glee and encourage her in doing that stupid stunt.

Here's some info on beer in Finland:

"Finland has a long history of beer dating back to the Middle Ages..."Suomalaisen oluen päivä", or the Finnish Beer Day is celebrated on the 13th of October to commemorate the founding of Oy Sinebrychoff Ab (a brewery) and the birth of Finnish beer...Most of the beers brewed in Finland are pale lagers. Finland's standing is 9th in per capita consumption of beer. Finnish people consume a total of 440 ML of beer annually and the trend is increasing by 11.7 633 mL bottles year-on-year per capita."

And that doesn't even begin to touch the evil spells and cruel deeds that would result once people got into vodka!

In modern times the boy wouldn't murder the woman, he would get his 'revenge' by being better than she is. There are many ways he could do that, and that's the beauty of the creative process.