http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalevala
. Who says past "sins" don't come back to haunt you ... anyways, the story is certainly epic in nature, and in a land where national spirit was lacking at the time (before independence always being tossed around by someone) was likely one of the defining elements in bringing the people under one 'banner', to demonstrate there is a separate 'people' here after all after being a more or less autonomous part of Russia for a long time. Could argue it being 'the appropriate' way of building a 'national' identity.The Kalevala is a Finnish epic poem that was compiled and written by Elias Lönnrot in the 19th century. It is considered one of the most significant works of Finnish literature and is based on oral folklore and mythology.
The Kalevala was originally recited by traditional Finnish singers known as "runo singers" or "kantele players". Today, there are only a few people alive who have the ability to recite the entire poem from memory.
Reciting the Kalevala requires a vast amount of knowledge and skill, as the poem consists of over 22,000 verses. It also demonstrates a deep connection to Finnish culture and tradition.
The Kalevala was passed down through generations of oral tradition, with runo singers memorizing and reciting the poem in its entirety. It was not until Lönnrot wrote it down that it became widely known and accessible.
Yes, there are recordings of the Kalevala being recited by modern runo singers. However, these are rare and not widely available. The best way to experience the poem is through live performances by skilled reciters.