Images from the Finnish Capital
Hold on Aino, we are going to save you!
You can see her better in my earlier entry that also describes what is happening in the one of the best-known Finnish paintings. The poster was gone for a long time but now it was put back probably because the Kalevala exhibition will soon end at Ateneum.
Ateneum has a special exhibition about Kalevala.
Today is Kalevala day which is also known as the day of Finnish culture. Kalevala is the national epic of Finland that is based on folk poetry collected by Elias Lönnrot in the 19th century.
The poster has one of the most well-known artworks in Finland by Akseli Gallen-Kallela. The old wise man is Väinämöinen, one of the main characters of the epic. Joukahainen promised his sister Aino as Väinämöinen’s wife if Väinämöinen would save Joukahainen from a swamp. While Aino’s mother was very pleased of this arrangement, Aino wasn’t.
Hands of Larin Paraske statue.
Larin Paraske had memorized a lot of folk poetry that has survived to this day thanks to her memory and other people’s efforts to record the poems. They ended up with 32 000 verses. In the late 1800s many leading Finnish national romantic artists came to listen to her and she was a big inspiration for them.
Swedish translation of The Egyptian by Mika Waltari at a shop window.
The Egyptian by Mika Waltari has facinated many Finns since 1945 and it is one of the most translated Finnish books ever. It tells the life story of Sinuhe who against all odds becomes involved in the power struggles of the pharaohs. Waltari had an amazing skill to tell interesting tales in historic settings. The incredibly productive author was a master of several other genres as well.
Earlier I’ve posted an entry that contains other Finnish literature classics.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants
I wonder if the participant from Buenos Aires will show us the same place I’ve written about in my travel blog.
Blogs of all particitipants:
American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by freefalling, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Aurora, South Africa by shelagh, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Bali, Indonesia by Anak Dokan, Bandung, Indonesia by Harry Makertia, Bandung, Indonesia by Bunyamin, Bandung, Indonesia by Eki Akhwan, Bangkok, Thailand by UberSand, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Baziège, France by PaB, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Birmingham (AL), USA by VJ, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Ilse, Boulder (CO), USA by A Sterling World, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Chandler (AZ), USA by PattheAZRealtor, Chapel Hill (NC), USA by missleah, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by trieulet, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Ram N, City of the Blue Mountains, Australia by Richard, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Edinburgh, UK by Dido, Evry, France by Olivier, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Gliwice, Poland by prado&fio, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by PPusa, Herne Bay, Great Britain by Han, Lil n Caz, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Honningsvag, Norway by J., Islip (NY), USA by Bettye, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia by Susie of Arabia, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Karwar, India by Yogesh, Knoxville (TN), USA by hope, Knoxville (TN), USA by Knoxville Girl, Lakewood (OH), USA by mouse, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lodz, Poland by wikiyu, London, UK by Ham, Madrid, Spain by Tr3nta, Mainz, Germany by JB, Manila, Philippines by Hilda, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Middletown (MD), USA by Bernie, Milton, New Zealand by Milton Daily Photo, Milwaukee (WI), USA by karl, Minneapolis (MN), USA by snapshutter, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Molfetta, Italy by saretta, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Montréal, Canada by My Life in Montreal, Moscow (ID), USA by Sherry, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Murcia, Spain by usuahia, Napa (CA), USA by katester, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by Kitty, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Oklahoma City (OK), USA by ananda.tashie, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Palos Verdes (CA), USA by tash, Paris, France by Eric, Paris, France by Elsa, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pensacola (FL), USA by P J, Philadelphia (PA), USA by Stiffa, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Sharon, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Prague, Czech Republic by kakna, Quincy (MA), USA by slim, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Reykjavik, Iceland by Vírgíll, Riga, Latvia by Riga Photos, Roanoke (VA), USA by Tanya, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by pearls, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, San Francisco (CA), USA by Burd Zel Krai, Santa Fe (NM), USA by Randem, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, Korea South by SeoulSnapper, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Silver Spring (MD), USA by John, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Singapore, Singapore by Zannnie, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, Springfield (IL), USA by Aubrey, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tamarindo, Costa Rica by David, Tauranga, New Zealand by Lisa Sarsfield, Telluride (CO), USA by mtsrool, Tempe (AZ), USA by angie, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Torino, Italy by Fabrizio, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Toulouse, France by Julia, Trieste, Italy by Rob&Piero, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Verona, Italy by Valeria in Verona, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by D.C. Confidential, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Woerden, Netherlands by Marcel, Yakima (WA), USA by katney, Yellowknife, Canada by Arctic Dreamer, York, UK by Ruby in York,
Aleksis Kivi's Seven Brothers was the first novel published in Finnish.
Today is Aleksis Kivi day which is also known as the day of Finnish literature. So I’ll list here a few books that are integral part of the Finnish culture.
The Unknown Soldier (Tuntematon sotilas) by Väinö Linna. The characters and what they say in the book are referenced so often that this is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the Finns. Unfortunately the English translation is really crappy.
The Egyptian (Sinuhe egyptiläinen) by Mika Waltari. Probably the most well-known Finnish book outside of Finland by one of the best Finnish authors ever.
The Year of the Hare (Jäniksen vuosi) by Arto Paasilinna. A story about a journalist who escapes the system to live in the wilderness with a hare. Generally Paasilinna is mostly considered as entertainment in Finland but people abroad find him more philosophical.
Kalevala. National epic collected from traditional poems by Elias Lönnrot. Many Finnish insurance companies, banks and other companies have taken their names from the book. Tapiola, Sampo, Ilmarinen, …
Today was a very special day as Finnish diplomat and peace mediator Martti Ahtisaari finally got his Nobel peace prize. During his amazing long career he has had a crucial role in solving many difficult situations. I’ll try to think something about him for tomorrow.
Flowers left on Mika Waltari memorial on the day of the 100th anniversary 19th September 2008.
Mika Waltari is one of the most translated Finnish authors and also loved by the locals as well. His best known work is The Egyptian (Sinuhe egyptiläinen), which is a very entertaining tale from the Egypt of pharaohs. Even egyptologists appreciate the book as his facts are pretty much correct even though he never visited Egypt. A Hollywood movie starring Elisabeth Taylor has also been made from the book.
Waltari was incredibly productive and he mastered several genres. His gigantic historical novels are loved as much as his Inspector Palmu (Komissaario Palmu) detective stories.
It is a shame his memorial is not of the same quality as his writing. I have walked past the memorial without realizing that the strange rocks are there to honor our greatest author.
