Kalevala - Finland's National Epic Explained

[@Anttimation]

Following this, there will be a series of videos illustrating the story of Kalevala.

[@larrywave]

Cant wait

[@Packless1]

...yes, please...! 🤩👍

[@classicalperformances8777]

Forgive my ignorance,but isn't karelia ancient Finland?

[@Anttimation]

@@classicalperformances8777 the area from which the stories were collected is and was back then under Russian rule despite being ancient lore of the Karelians, Finns and Finnic other peoples. Not ignorant but a good question :)

[@MasterSage50307]

I just watched this. I can't wait to watch your other videos! I'm going to pace myself, so I can enjoy the stories more! I am curious, though. Growing up, my introduction to world mythologies was through Bulfinch's Mythology. And I know it was assembled in the same period as Lönnrot's assembly of the Kelevala. I find it odd that there is a good exposé on Norse mythology in Bulfinch's, but nothing related to Finnish fokelore. How do you think all of that came to be? I'm sure both of them had to have known about each other; did they interact, and if so what was that relationship like?

[@KenMoss2986]

Lived in Finland for a while. Loved the country the culture and the Kalevala, being a builder who works with his hands my favourite character is Ilmarinen.

[@Anttimation]

Ha - that makes sense!

[@gmansard641]

I adore the Kalevala! I read all of JRR Tolkien when I was in high school (40 years ago), and when I learned how Kalevala inspired him I just had to read it myself. Found the Crawford translation at my local library, and ended up loving it! Favorite characters? Hard to say. Lemminkainen of course is a lot of fun, but I think I admire Ilmarinen the most. I am a craftsman myself (though not quite so good as him, I haven't figured out how to make a Sampo. . . "

[@Anttimation]

How cool that it's found its way to local libraries overseas! I'm probably a Louhi guy myself. It's awesome (and unique) how the villain is a scary matriarch. Thanks for watching!

[@Anttimation]

@@gforce1754 hmm sounds similar and somewhat similar antagonist roles, however I'm not aware of a connection

[@aaronstavern]

Brilliant video!

[@Anttimation]

Thanks mate!

[@andretoivonen9737]

Kiitos kun nostit tän videon youtubelle. Sopii hyvin kattoa näin Juhannuksena

[@Anttimation]

Noni! Erinomaista. Juhannusvideota olis tulossa myöhemmin tänään. Hyvää juhannusta!

[@js1423]

Good to have Reidar Wasenius in a video again!

[@Anttimation]

Agreed. Excited for what's coming as well...

[@HouseofKhaine]

Such a serene video and then: "Well I do have a lot to add. First of all..." lmao. You had me choking on my breakfast! XD

[@Anttimation]

Hope you didn't die from it, as this could maybe be used as evidence 🤔

[@lynxoffinland]

Very informational video and lovely to watch!

[@Anttimation]

Thank you! A new Kalevala video coming on Wednesday btw...

[@arng111]

When I was living in Canada, I found a copy of the Kalevala at a second hand store. It was only 4 dollars!

[@Anttimation]

Good bargain!

[@haroldiron8178]

Your videos are always so good. I am very exited to see more.

[@Anttimation]

Thanks! That is very good to hear.

[@angelsmagick]

Great video, looking forward for the next!

[@Anttimation]

Thanks! Me too, hehe.

[@YvonneEriksen]

Being of exclusively Nordic - Danish, Nowegian, Swedish and Finnish - descent I've just recently begun to delve into my ancestral roots. My eldest daughter gave me the newest Danish translation of Kalevala for christmas, and I'm now trying to make myself ready for reading and understanding it properly. I'm therefore happy to find a KZbin channel like this!

[@Anttimation]

@@YvonneEriksen I hope you enjoy it or at least get something out of it. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@a.v.j5664]

Runo singing was still around in western Finland at the time of Elias Lönnrot, but it was most popular in eastern Finland aka Karelia and Savonia

[@zapfsaeule2]

Super!!! Love it and again so interesting! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@Anttimation]

Thanks again for watching! 😊

[@mallinen0777]

As a Karelian, I have to remind makers of this video, that it belongs to Karelian culture just as much.

[@Anttimation]

Of course

[@colonelblars9126]

Karelia will become Sweden again soon.

[@mallinen0777]

@@colonelblars9126 maybe Finland, definitely not Sweden

[@es5925]

Larping karelian because your grandfather was born there doesn't make you karelian.

[@PC_Simo]

@@mallinen0777 Definitely not.

[@mr.silver7651]

Sehr gutes Video 🤘🤘👍👍🙏🙏zur Zeit lese ich die deutsche Version der kalevala,befinde mich zur Zeit an der Stelle wo väinämöinen wieder zusammen gesetzt wird und die Biene sich auf ihrem Weg macht für die heilende Salbe.ein tolles buch🇫🇮👌👍🙏

[@Anttimation]

Vielen dank! Aber ich muss sagen, dass ich alles nicht verstehe 😅 habe mein Deutsch meistens vergessen!

[@mr.silver7651]

@@Anttimation kiitos 🙏🙏🙏🙏 i only know 3 or 4 sentences in soumi, work for 24 years for a finnish crane Company and we speak english,the most of the time.i really love finnish metal Bands like amorphis, ensiferum,sentenced🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘thought last year ,its time to Start reading the kalevala, Fan since 1996......thervedes 🙏🙏🙏🤘🤘🤘🤘🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮

[@waylonwilde3346]

Can’t wait for the series!

[@Anttimation]

Me neither! Working on the first part right now.

[@clsrocks007]

I read the graphic novel today. Was pretty awesome

[@MooseDuckVlogs]

Thank You and Kiitos Paljon on this Video...Not only I am interested in Hockey IN Finland but to know about Kalevala is cool...again Kiitos.

[@Anttimation]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching again 🙌

[@stephaniehargon3800]

I've been following my genealogy randomly for a few months now and following up on the more interesting stories in it. I found "Thorri Snaersson, King of Kvenland and Gotaland" where someone mentioned the Kalevala for more information on the people and their stories. This is a great Introductory video! I love JRR Tolkien also. I love that he was inspired by this.

[@Anttimation]

Thank you! Kalevala was indeed one of his main inspiration sources, and no wonder why.

[@cassidytownsend9660]

This is so cool! I'm American, but my grandpa was the only one of his brothers to leave Finland so we have family there. I would love to visit one day

[@Anttimation]

Welcome! Will be quite a long journey but hopefully worth it 😎

[@kathytzekou6489]

Amazing video 👏👏

[@AulisA.O.T]

What a amazing story this Finland Epic has. (Kalevala) My homeland, we have a Estonia Epic too, (Kalevipoeg)

[@Anttimation]

Thanks! Kalevipoeg is on my to-read list. I wonder if there's a decent English or Finnish translation 🤔

[@mathish1477]

What's it like?

[@WaraniWanua]

yess!! finally Kalevala, thank you!

[@Anttimation]

You're welcome. I'm working on the first part of the story of Kalevala videos right now!

[@alicebPJ]

Awesome, can't wait to watch the rest of the series! I've been trying to look for some type of audiobook narrating the Kalevala in Finnish, while I read it. I've only been studying the language for 6 months so I'm far from understanding pretty much most things, but I would love to hear this beautiful language with the structure used in the Kalevala. I could only find the English translation with the audio, so any suggestions by anyone reading this on where I could find it would be appreciated!

[@Anttimation]

Thanks! That's admirable! I don't think I understood what you're looking for. An audiobook in English?

[@alicebPJ]

@@Anttimation yeah my comment was pretty convoluted 😅 I'd like to find the audiobook narrated in Finnish! Not sure if it's maybe available on Audible exclusively in Finland, since I couldn't find it.

[@Anttimation]

@@alicebPJ Aa ok! Don't know about Audible (Amazon isn't much of a thing here) but here's one: www.suomalainen.com/products/kalevala-3 and here you can hear a sample of it: www.storytel.com/fi/fi/books/kalevala-312958?gclid=Cj0KCQiAjc2QBhDgARIsAMc3SqQ1fEovdJ_eORBY2uyIkIbwEPeLmHx9iMT7nm1YQYGXXKSdSx0S_X0aAhyzEALw_wcB

[@alicebPJ]

@@Anttimation that's amazing, thank you for taking the time to reply and look for that!

[@Anttimation]

@@alicebPJ Happy if that helped! 👍

[@EmilyRafferty]

I learned about this from the behind the scenes jrr Tolkien DVD 8 had back in the early really 2000s... it's cool to be able to watch videos about it on KZbin

[@Anttimation]

Those dvd sets are quite the something 👌

[@kissalanpojat]

Mahtava video jälleen!

[@Anttimation]

Kiitos!

[@alvenisplaza1068]

La traducción al español es muy buena, me gustó mucho este video, saludos desde Venezuela.

[@rudolfowens]

This was a nice introduction for those who never heard of it and who wonder why images painted by Akseli Gallen-Kallela keep appearing everywhere when people need royalty free Finnish cultural imagery. I borrow his work too. I look forward to more of your animation of the Kalevala, old and new.

[@Anttimation]

Thanks Rudolf! Yeah, true. Also in Finland they are everywhere. There's one cafe in Helsinki with a full ceiling of his work and it's dope.

[@BibleUnleashed]

Good stuff.

[@Anttimation]

Thanks! Your channel looks interesting too 👍

[@BibleUnleashed]

@@Anttimation Thanks. I think we've talked few months ago!

[@ThisTrainIsLost]

Compiled and, in places, written by ol' Elias. It suddenly struck me that what you said about the going and return of Väinämöinen is what legend says about King Arthur. (Sorry about the redundancy of that first sentence but I was typing while listening. Had I just listened to it all and THEN typed, that useless line wouldn't be there.) Truly trivial: I inherited a lovely hardcover copy of the Kalevala (printed in simple two colour type and safe inside a leather slipcover) published in 1947.

[@Anttimation]

Yeah! King Arthur was my favourite mythical hero as a kid. I wonder to what extend these could be connected, as myths often are.

[@lyrigageforge3259]

@@Anttimation In same sense as there are arch types for heroes and such - or that a hero-story has a certain structure about it. It seems to be some kind of a wishful addition to a story for those who find the old times a lot more interesting for being mysterious and magical per say. True heroes have to always return or the story will not end well.

[@ThisTrainIsLost]

@@Anttimation I think that first off you would have to find out whether the two myths were contemporaneous or not. I would guess that they weren't so, an attempt to find out when the two stories were "born" would have to be made. If there's any overlap at all, then you would look for the ways in which the two sets of people might have interacted. If no point or points of contact, direct or indirect, can be established, then you might as well have a sauna, a barbecue and beer while you think up something else to research.

[@Aurinkohirvi]

I don't recall why Arthur said he leaves. But there's a big difference with Arthur and Väinämöinen. Väinämöinen is a god in folklore, although Kalevala made him an ur-hero. Wikipedia says he was the master of lightnings and fire in folklore, the highest of gods, which certainly hints to prime god Ukko-Ilmarinen. Agricola says Väinämöinen was the god of hämäläiset tribe (Tavastians). And he is known from the creation of world runos where he is the son of goddess Ilmatar. As Ilmarinen is found with his own name in runos, its possible Väinämöinen is Ukko: so both are the same, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age versions of the prime god. And it's the folklore that has this runo of Väinämöinen leaving, angry and sour because his ways are judged wrong by the son of Marjatta (Mary). When leaving he boasts that he will be back when heroic deeds are needed and the universe stops working.

[@ThisTrainIsLost]

@@Aurinkohirvi Good King Arthur didn't leave so much as he was taken away by rather supernatural women (probably related to the Lady of the Lake, who once again became the custodian of Excalibur) after he passed away in his victorious battle against his (magically inbred) son. You know that magic was involved because it is said that, though Arthur died in his final battle, he must have been in some state in between life and death because the mysterious women took Arthur away by boat to the mystical isle of Avalon from which Arthur will return when his land is once more in such peril that only Arthur's return can save the day. It was that going and returning that made the connection in my mind between Arthur & Väinämöinen.

[@urszulajablonska]

I have gotten my book for Christmas. I must have been about 12 years old. It was thick with a black and white jacket. I approached it with suspicion. I read it last, from my holiday pile that year. I was immediately enchanted by it and read it few times in a row. I still remember the thrill of reading it…However influential it was it fell into the black hole of my childhood voracious readership. I still remember the feelings while reading it, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE STORY AGAIN! I am in my seventieth now. Bring it on, PLEASE …

[@Anttimation]

Awesome!

[@js1423]

Another video reaching a thousand views! Congrats!

[@Anttimation]

Yess! Thank you! 💪

[@js1423]

@@Anttimation Good to see this channel grow!

[@Anttimation]

@@js1423 Slowly but surely, however the speed of growth is also picking up slowly... While I don't get random hits like "Why Vikings Never Invaded Finland" often, it's good to see this going somewhere.

[@js1423]

@@Anttimation 👍

[@ET_AYY_LMAO]

A game called "Noita" brought me here.

[@Anttimation]

Hmm, quite a few people have said that. I have to check it out!

[@devinsmith4790]

I've yet to read the Kalevala, but it certainly reminds me of the Homeric epics Iliad and Odyssey in terms of composition, being based off oral story telling (a fair amount independent of each other) and later being written down by an author.

[@patrickdanteoke]

Ilmarinen is quite a fascinating character. When I heard about the Sampo , I immediately thought of a giant shampoo between the sky and earth.

[@Anttimation]

Well he does presumably wash his hair with something!

[@Massigangster]

Nice talking voice! Enjoyed

[@Anttimation]

Reidar should do audiobooks!

[@Massigangster]

@@Anttimation that would be great!!

[@Pyllymysli]

Väinämöinen was such a badass that he was 600 years old when he was born. He made a zither out of a jawbone of a giant pike and sang Joukahainen in the swamp. Only couple of his list of deeds of badassery. It's also widely speculated that Väinämöinen was the inspiration for the character Gandalf in Tolkiens Lord of the rings lore, and if you know both characters the similarities are uncanny.

[@Anttimation]

No doubt he was part of Gandal's inspiration, and Tom Bombadil's. The badness of his ass is unmatched.

[@zapfsaeule2]

And so well done too!

[@HelpAlongYourWay]

Subscribed.

[@Anttimation]

Much appreciated!

[@oddis188]

Noiiiice!

[@Anttimation]

Thaaaanks! 🤘

[@asgautbakke8687]

There has even been a comic made inspired by it, by Disney drawer Don Rosa, in effect Donald Duck & co. going to the land of Kalevala. The comic was at once translated to Finnish and received local astonishment for an American of absolutely not Finn background who knew this epic. A year or so later mr. Rosa found himself in Finland. He had no idea what awaited him - airport staff must have revealed because soon everyone knew that Don Rosa who had made a comic resume of the work for an American audience was in the land... He was invited to comic conventions, literature festivals and to top it all, to an audience with the president of Finland...

[@Anttimation]

Don Rosa is HUGE here! And for good reason, I admire the research he puts in the stories.

[@miomimomiro]

4:24 YOU’RE GODDAMN RIGHT I AM. 🤠😎

[@flwrsforvarda]

Pov Tolkien: "Write that down! Write that down!"

[@Anttimation]

And... He certainly did :D

[@4n0m113]

The kalevala is the epic of all time

[@charlespatton9068]

My favorite section is the "forging of the Sampo" "...but of evil disposition..."

[@Anttimation]

Yeah! That is badass. I have a series of the Kalevala animated, the next part out soon, and getting towards the forging of Sampo... ;)

[@netizencapet]

I've read Kieth Bosley's translation of the epic (the 1849 version) and listened to his reading of it many, many, many times. Of a truth, Mr. Bosley is nothing short of an incarnation of Vainamoinen himself.

[@Anttimation]

I want to look it up now!

[@coyote4326]

"It's takes the reads to a mythical land" - aka Finland

[@Packless1]

...i.m.o. most people - like me - unfortunately know little about the Kalevala...! 🙁 ...o.t.o.h. it's best known for inspiring Tolkien' L.o.t.R...! 👍

[@Anttimation]

Well that's why I make these! Tolkien was, of course, inspired by other tales too but this was hugely important.

[@turpasauna]

Traditionally Savonians worded spells, Karelians sung poetry. The areas were/are very close to each other but very different in cultural habits.

[@MyrnaRocesOrtiz-Tarr-pe4xy]

thank you, interested to know more about Finland Mythology, tell Rosie, it's Finnish

[@PulpMortem]

Greetings! I review pulp SF novels and am working on Saga of Lost Earths by Emil Petaja, which weaves aspects of the Kalevala with science fiction. This video helped me a great deal with the backstory of the Kalevala, and I'll be sure to give you a shout-out and will link to this video once mine drops. Great work and thanks for all your hard work!

[@Anttimation]

Hey that's great to hear! I've not heard of the book(s?) before but sounds interesting. Send me a link to antti at anttimation.com when the video is out if you want and I'll watch it!

[@PulpMortem]

@@Anttimation will do. Cheers!

[@HonneTapža]

Wouldn't it be awesome if Age of Mythology Retold had Finnish mythology?

[@Anttimation]

Is that a game?

[@HonneTapža]

@@Anttimation well anticipated remake for spin off of Age of Empires strategy game series that comes out this year. I'd do anything to get Finnish mythology to my childhood favorite game. I'd even sell my soul to Perkele, hadn't I already done that to get me some juhla mokka, you know the inflation and all that.

[@taramandil7907]

KULLERVO TÚRIN TURAMBAR My absolute favourite in the entire Legendarium

[@Anttimation]

That's the guy.

[@Anttimation]

I have a video of the Finnish influences on Middle Earth: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4mtdqCal8yXbaM

[@digitallurke7710]

'He has not yet returned. ' 🤣👍

[@Anttimation]

Dude likes to takes his time...

[@lesliefranklin1870]

I like Väinämöinen because he made the kantele from the pike.

[@Anttimation]

@@lesliefranklin1870 that was pretty metal.

[@catalystdrive]

Can certainly hear the Aryan PIE influence and how it relates to Sanskrit.

[@Anttimation]

Interesting! Where, for example? I'm not disagreeing btw, just interested to hear you thoughts!

[@jussikankinen9409]

Kalevala writer was sweed who measured forest people skulls

[@UnchartedAtlas]

Is this the voice that tells people to wear a mask on the HSL train?

[@Anttimation]

Don't know about HSL but he does tell you things in the VR trains 😀

[@UnchartedAtlas]

@@Anttimation I knew I recognised him! Haha Awesome video by the way, and the art is 👨‍🍳👌 as ever

[@flwrsforvarda]

0:43 isn't Väinämöinen a demigod? son of Ilmarinen and a human man?

[@Anttimation]

I don't think there was a concept of a "demigod" or god even as we understand today. Ukko would be the closest to how we classify gods from today's religions' POV.

[@turpasauna]

Depends on the area how he's seen.

[@arietrece]

And Jean Sibelius...???

[@Anttimation]

I don't remember his relation to Kalevala but as a nationalist he certainly didn't mind it, I'm sure

[@Musical_Like]

Postcrossing으로 이 영상에 도달😄 추천해준 친구에게 감사!!! ❤🧡💛💚💙💜

[@124anya]

Haha. Thanks.

[@Anttimation]

Welcome!

[@ichigoapanchal9935]

🤔 Now i wonder if finish mythos is ralated to indo-european mythos family.

[@Anttimation]

Yes. There are similar universal themes found in all mythology, as well as some more detailed connections, but Finnic myths have developed stories of their own that are quite different to anything else.

[@mattikarvonen5063]

Elias Lönroth made good job, but because of church and "acceptable narrative" he dismissed many great poiems. Kanteletar is one source for the missing good ones.

[@Anttimation]

@@mattikarvonen5063 indeed. I should make a video on that too once I get more familiar with it.

[@vonborgah]

2024, No väinämöinen yet

[@Anttimation]

@@vonborgah still waiting...

[@mirppeliini796]

Sä kuulutat junan kuulutukset

[@Anttimation]

@Reidar Wasenius kuuluttaa juu

[@mirppeliini796]

@@Anttimation niin

[@derjeniche5409]

I don´t like that Väinämöinen kills animals to get words for his summoning.

[@tyrantprime]

Just wanted to share that Louhi got debuted in a Japanese game named Fate Grand Order! Yall should check it out and share your thoughts about her :)

[@Anttimation]

Ha! Nice. Have to check it out then.