Kalevala Day 2026 sketches
Made a bunch of sketches a while back for February 28th's Kalevala Day, which is dedicated to Finnish culture and the country's national epic; Kalevala. 🇫🇮
The poems and stories themselves are much much older, full of mythology and folklore and were carried word of mouth for generations until compiled into literary form in the early 1800s.
The poems begin with the creation of the World. Ilmatar, the Maiden of the Air, descends to the first ocean where she keeps floating for a long time, eventually becoming pregnant from the ocean winds. While expecting, she lifts a knee on top of the water surface where a Goldeneye makes its nest and lays seven eggs; six golden ones and a single iron egg.
Ilmatar then moves her knee and the eggs fall and crack, and from each of the seven eggs the land, the heavens, the stars, the sun, the moon and so on are shaped.
The poems are full of different creatures and animals, one iconic one being the kokko, the great eagle. Sometimes depicted as being entirely made of iron, sometimes described as being engulfed in flames, but most often described as being so large its one wing could reach the sea and the other touch the top of the heavens.
One of the major narratives in the poems is the creation of Sampo, the miracle contraption that could bring its owner great wealth and fortune. The great smith Ilmarinen is tasked to create what is considered impossible to make - but after days and numerous failed attempts, he finally crafts the machine no man has ever seen!
The great sage and singer Väinämöinen, born from Ilmatar in the beginning of time, ends up making the first kantele harp from the jaw of a large pike. Every living being stops to listen as he plays the first tunes by the beach. Väinämöinen himself is so touched by the music that he starts to weep, his tears turning into small pearls.
One of the memorable and tragic side stories is the story of Kullervo, his entire life being a journey from one tragedy to another, right to the very end when he's discussing with his sword and asking its advice.
Kalevala also includes stories about Tuonela, the Underworld. A dead, barren wasteland that stretches for miles and miles with nothing but a single river with pitch-black waters. No living should have any business there.
The hero Lemminkäinen, however, is tasked to travel there and hunt down the lonely swan that lives by the river.
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