Kalevala Day (Finland) – Elias Lonnrot, a country doctor, folklorist and philogogist compiled the Kalevala, Finland’s national epic in 1835. This day is observed country wide with lectures, parades, and recitations to honour him.
Source: www.multiculturalcalendars.com
Part of a posting series on multicultural events for 2009.
Filed under: Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion
Mayor Karen,
Thank you for your post about Kalevala Day. I am a second-generation Canadian of Finnish descent and have been involved in developing contacts among our family members in five different nations.
Aside from saunas, Sibelius, Nokia phones and Finns playing in the NHL, the culture gets little air time. Finns tend to be self-effacing (see http://tinyurl.com/yqwpjd).
The Kalevala is akin to a national treasure. Thank you for your recognition of the literature and culture of Finns.