The first publication of the Kalevala in 1835 marked a pivotal moment in the rise of Finnish nationalism. Compiled by Elias Lönnrot, the Kalevala was a collection of traditional myths and folklore from the Karelian people. Its publication played a central role in promoting a distinct Finnish identity, stirring national pride, and fostering a sense of unity between the Finnish-speaking peasantry and the Swedish-speaking upper class.
Mistress of the North, Louhi attacking Väinämöinen in the form of a giant eagle with her troops on her back. @ Akseli Gallen-Kallela
During this period, Finland was an autonomous part of the Russian Empire, having been ceded by Sweden in 1809. Swedish was the dominant language in administration, education, and cultural life, while Finnish was spoken primarily by the rural population. The Kalevala's celebration of Finnish language and culture helped ignite a movement to elevate Finnish to a position of equality with Swedish, a process supported by both Finnish nationalists and some Russian bureaucrats seeking to weaken ties between Finland and Sweden.
Led by figures like Johan Vilhelm Snellman, the Fennoman movement sought to establish Finnish as a language of government and education, culminating in Finnish gaining official status in 1863. The Kalevala became a symbol of Finnish cultural independence and a driving force in the broader nationalist movement, which eventually contributed to Finland's quest for full independence from Russia in the early 20th century.