pickFinnish national epic telling the story of Väinämöinen, a shaman-type figure, Ilmarinen, a smith, and Lemminkäinen, whose defining feature is his promiscuity, and their trips to the Northland seeking wives and fighting wars.
Thank goodness for the Wikipedia summary of the story because I spent a lot of time trying to work out how the episodes all fitted together. It was interesting and I'm glad I've read it but I don't think I would do so again.
Happy Kalevala/Finnish Culture Day.
“Kalevala Day (Finnish: Kalevalan päivä), also known as Finnish Culture Day (Finnish: suomalaisen kulttuurin päivä), is celebrated on 28 February in honor of Finnish culture and the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala.“
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalevala_Day
A wee jaunt over to By the Lake Books in Burlington netted me this #BookHaul. Two Doctor Who novels, a French-Canadian novel (in French? in the Greater Toronto Area?) and a Finnish epic poem.
pickI loved that characters in The Kalevala had fights with songs rather than with weapons. As the epic at the heart of Finnish national identity, this book of adventures is important cultural heritage. Wholly distinct from Norse mythology, this work focuses on the singer Vainamoinen & a wealth/fortune-creating device called The Sampo. While patriarchal as expected, these rhythmic tales, rooted in the land & a love of song, are fun & beautiful.
It wasn't the easiest thing to read because it's an epic poem but the story itself was brilliant. The sexist gender roles were a bit cringy at times, but given it's age it's unfortunately unsurprising. Either way, some fantastic tales.
#BackpackEurope
Time to check out this Finnish epic. Although I only really identify as Canadian, I am 1/4 Finnish by heritage. For a variety of reasons, I don't have any of that culture (except a great recipe for kropsu - oven pancakes - so good!) Still I'm curious to learn more, and hopefully travel there someday.
#poetrychallenge2018 (though probably for June since it's 50 sections long... might take me a while, but I'm in no rush)
pickFate and I can‘t believe we finished this. An epic poem of Finland. The boys get to have adventures and the women get to suffer. Actually, I enjoyed this as it has a repetitive narration like waves on a shore or a chant like refrain. It isn‘t difficult to imagine this as an oral history.
Pregnant for Seven Hundred Years?! Original storyteller was a man. No woman would be so cruel....
My Finnish pal gave me this...I am going to be brave and read a bit of it. I find poetry daunting and epic poetry even more so, but batten the hatches and let's give it a go (little by little)
The Kalevala | 
