Forest is one of the basic elements of the life of the Finns. Instead of any single Attitude there is a variety of attitudes to be revealed in a certain period of time and another variety from a period to another. The attitudes are related to one's relationship with forest, e.g. economic, romantic, aestethic, ethic, religious. The aim of this study is to synthesize the historical progress behind these attitudes. A special attention will be devoted to the concept of ecological sanctification.