Uralic traditions In the Finnish language, the asterism is sometimes called by its old Finnish name, Otava. The meaning of the name has been almost forgotten in Modern Finnish; it means a salmon weir. Ancient Finns believed the bear (Ursus arctos) was lowered to earth in a golden basket off the Ursa Major, and when a bear was killed, its head was positioned on a tree to allow the bear's spirit to return to Ursa Major.
uralic traditions in the finnish language the asterism is sometimes called by its old finnish name otava the meaning of the name has been almost forgotten in modern finnish; it means a salmon weir ancient finns believed the bear (ursus arctos) was lowered to earth in a golden basket off the ursa major and when a bear was killed its head was positioned on a tree to allow the bear's spirit to return to ursa major