J.L. Runeberg's Day
Johan Ludvig Runeberg (5 February 1804, Jakobstad – 6 May 1877,  Porvoo) was a Finno-Swedish poet,and is considered the national poet of  Finland. He wrote his works in Swedish.
 He lived in Porvoo  and worked as professor of Roman literature in the Gymnasium of  Porvoo. He was married to his second cousin Fredrika Runeberg, born  Tengström, with whom he had eight children and who wrote poems and  novels, too.
 
 Many of his poems deal with life in rural Finland. The best known of these is called  Farmer Paavo, about a smallholding peasant farmer in the poor parish of  Saarijärvi and his determination, and survival in the harsh Finnish  climate.
  Runeberg's most famous work is The  Tales of Ensign Stål, written between 1848 and 1860. It is considered  the greatest Finnish epic poem outside the native Kalevala tradition and  contains tales of the Swedish War of 1808-09 with Russia. In the war, Sweden  ignominiously lost Finland, which became a 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 "Our Land", became the Finnish  National Anthem. Runeberg is celebrated on 5 February each year.
 
	
   	





