Poetry Reading: Runeberg Day
Feb 5, 2020 at 7:00 pm, Zenith Bookstore, 318 N. Central Ave, Duluth, MN 55807: Join the Finlandia Foundation Northland Chapter for a celebration of Runeberg Day, the Finnish holiday celebrating the poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg. Free admission, donations accepted. Special treat: Taste the famous Runeberg Torte (Runebergintorttu) made by Beatrice Ojakangas.
Poets:
Gary Boelhower
Daniel and Sandra Oyinloye
Jim Johnson (read by Marlene Wisuri)
Sheila Packa
Steve Leppälä
The work of Johan Runeberg (read by Hanna Erpestad)
Johan Ludvig Runeberg became the national poet of Finland. One of his poems became the national anthem. It's titled "Maamme" (Finnish: [ˈmɑːmːe]) or "Vårt land" (Finland Swedish: [ˈvoːrt ˈlɑnːd]; both meaning "Our Land").
Excerpts:
Our country, Finland, land of ours
sing its golden word!
No valley, no hill,
no water, shore more dear
than this northern homeland,
the dear land of our fathers
Our land is poor, and so shall be
To him who gold will crave.
The strangers proudly pass, but we
Shall ever love this land, we see,
In moor, and fell, and isle and wave,
A golden land, so brave.
…
Thy blossom, hidden now from sight,
Shall burst its bud ere long.
Lo! from our love, shall rise aright,
Thy sun, thy hope, thy joy, thy light,
And higher, once, more full and strong,
Shall ring Our Country’s song.
(Trans. from Swedish by Anna Krook, except the first two lines, which I have translated)
More information about Maamme: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maamme
Listen to the Finnish national anthem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5mTKv40Svg
For a recipe for Runeberg Torte: https://www.scandikitchen.co.uk/runeberg-cakes/
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