Karelia Hosts International Cultural Marathon Devoted to Kalevala Epic

On Friday, Karelia hosted the opening of the international cultural marathon devoted to the anniversary of the publication of the famous Karelian-Finnish epic "Kalevala". On February 28th, 1835, the compiler of the folk poem, Finnish folklorist Elias Lennrot signed the introduction to the first variant of Kalevala.

During two weeks, Karelia will be hosting the "Rohkei Tutte" /Smart Girl/ youth festival, the Veps Beauty competition, and a scientific-practical seminar on the problems of studying the epic, the Karelian Culture Ministry's press service reported.

Different regions of the republic will hold book exhibitions, concerts, and performances based on Kalevala. There will also be a presentation of the epic's edition for the blind.

Besides, the festival will present an electronic version of a film titled "Rune-Singing Villages of the White-Sea Karelia", which features old villages where Kalevala's compiler collected the epic's runes.

Along with the Karelian ministries and public organisations, the Juminkeko cultural fund of the Finnish city of Kuhmo took part in the organisation of the festival.

The funds for the marathon were provided by the Culture of Russia federal programme.