The figure of Yonitketta, the night weeper, in Karelian mythology

The article is based on the folk and ethnographic materials deposited in the archives of Karelia and Finland. For the first time in the national folkloristics the image of yönitkettäi, the night weeper, is analyzed through the prism of the texts of mythological prose and magic spells, as well as beliefs and rituals. Firstly, the semantic interpretation and correct translation of the name, which has two meanings of the childhood disease and of the mythological figure, into Russian was the main purpose of the textological and comparative typological analysis. Secondly, the figurative system and visual parameters, which are common to the spirit of night insomnia, were examined. As a result, it can be concluded that yönitkettäi is not a smgle spirit. Its age varies and it can develop and improve its skills. The spirit is connected not only with the world of the children, but also with the world of adults. This character is most often described as an amorphous creature, although sometimes its descriptions bear anthropo-, zoo- and omithomorphic characteristics. Some solar motives can also be observed in its characteristics. The character's connection with the elements of water, wild forests and domestic spirits is also identified.