I Cut My Nightmares Out Of Paper

“Omaansa Lempokin nuolee”.

I came across this illustration of an old Finnish idiom “Omaansa Lempokin nuolee” meaning “Even Lempo licks his own”. There’s also a version “Lähimmäistään Lempokin nuolee”; Even Lempo licks his loved one.

Basically, it means that everyone always looks after their own family and sees ways to support them (including nepotism). Monsters, evil beings, devils, goblins and the feared Lempo look after their family members in Finnish culture. In some cases, you can negotiate with them by blackmailing them with their cups or get riches if you save their cup from  a trouble. 

Garth Williams (American, 1912-1996)

The myrtle plant family. The South Australian naturalist. October 31,1938.

Evil Eyes (2019)