FINNISH EPIC
"THE LAND OF THE HEROES"
ONE OF FOUR GREATEST
The Finns possess one of the four great national epics of the world—^the "Kalevala" (the ancient name of Finland, meaning "Land of the Heroes"), states the "Sydney Morning Herald."
It dates back to the twelfth century and contains 22,791 verses, some being 3000 years old. They incorporate legends of bygone days with the teachings of the wizard. Wainamoinen, the national minstrel, and record contests between Finns and Lapps, the Finns personifying light, the Lapps darkness.
Wainomoinen, who wept to hear his own songs, his tears being transformed into pearls, was challenged in song by a rival singer from Lapland, and. on defeating him. was given the Lapp's sister Aino for a bride. Aino. however, did not wish to marry and, when by accident she was drowned, her J mother remarked that mothers should not compel daughters to wed against their will. WIZARD'S PROPOSAL. The wizard then sought to marry the Maid of Beauty or Maiden of the Rainbow, daughter of Louhi. another Lapp, who agreed to the marriage on condition that the wizard brought her the Sampo or magic grist-mill. The maid also set him a few tasks/among them being a demand for a whip-stock made from an icicle without leaving any ice shavings! While the wizard's younger brother, Ilmarinen, the smith, was forging the Sampo for him, another nero kidnapped the maiH "in her gold'and silver air-gown." and promised her that he would not fight any more if she would give up going to village dances. Both broke their promises. Deserted, the maid was sought again by the wizard, who had brought her mother the Sampo, but the maid preferred the younger brother, and the wizard attended their wedding after remarking that old men should not seek to marry young maids. LIKE "HIAWATHA." There is also a story of mother love in which the mother of another hero vows that nothing will or can destroy a mother's love. Again, when Louhi sends plagues, the wizard cures them with vapour baths which the Finns invented. The epic resembles "Hiawatha" in theme, the verses being alliterative. Much knowledge of these brave people and their country may be gleaned from the poem, which was first collected in the nineteenth century. ( i
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Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19400309.2.168.6
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 59, 9 March 1940, Page 19
Word Count
380FINNISH EPIC Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 59, 9 March 1940, Page 19
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