Johan Ludvig Runeberg

Johan Ludvig Runeberg (February 5 or February 7, 1804 – May 6, 1877) was a Finland-Swedish poet, and is held to be the national poet of Finland. Runeberg was born in Jakobstad (Pietarsaari) and studied at Academy of ?bo, where he befriended Johan Vilhelm Snellman and Zacharias Topelius.

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Many of his poems deal with life in rural Finland. The best known of these is Bonden Paavohttp://www.kantele.com/nwfwebsite/runeberg_martin/runeberg_martin.html, (Farmer Paavo, Saarij?rven Paavo in Finnish), about a smallholding peasant farmer in the poor parish of Saarij?rvi and his determination and "sisu" (guts) in the face of a harsh climate and years of bad harvests. Each year he mixes double the amount of bark into his bread to stave off starvation.

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Runeberg's most famous work is F?nrik St?ls s?gner (The Tales of Ensign St?l, V?nrikki Stoolin tarinat in Finnish) written between 1848 and 1860. It is considered the greatest Finnish epic poem outside the native Kalevala tradition and contains tales of the Finnish War of 1808-09 with Russia. In the war, Sweden ignominiously lost Finland, which became an Grand Duchy in the Russian empire. The poem, which is composed episodically, emphasizes the common humanity of all sides in the conflict, while principally lauding the heroism of the Finns. The first poem "V?rt land", (Our Land, Maamme in Finnish) became the Finnish National Anthem. Runeberg is celebrated on 5 February each year.

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February 5: February 5 is the 36th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 329 days remaining (330 in leap years)....

February 7: February 7 is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 327 days remaining, 328 in leap years....

1804: 1804 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar)....

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