Editing Kalevala (section)

==Influence==
The ''Kalevala'' is a major part of Finnish culture and history. It has influenced the arts in Finland and in other cultures around the world.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} In 2024, the [[European Commission]] granted the epic with a [[European Heritage Label]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20083250 |title=Finnish epic Kalevala receives European Heritage Label |access-date=12 April 2024 |work=Yle |date=11 April 2024 |archive-date=11 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240411143751/https://yle.fi/a/74-20083250 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Finnish daily life===
[[File:Le hall du musée national de Finlande (Helsinki).jpg|thumb|150px|Entrance hall of the [[National Museum of Finland]] with Kalevala frescoes by Gallen-Kallela]]

The influence of the ''Kalevala'' in daily life and business in Finland is tangible. Names and places associated with the ''Kalevala'' have been adopted as company and brand names and as place names.

There are several places within Finland with ''Kalevala''-related names, for example: the district of [[Tapiola]] in the city of [[Espoo]]; the district of [[Pohjola, Turku|Pohjola]] in the city of [[Turku]], the district of [[Metsola, Vantaa|Metsola]] in the city of [[Vantaa]], and the districts of [[Kaleva (Tampere)|Kaleva]] and [[Sampo (district)|Sampo]] in the city of [[Tampere]].{{Cn|date=March 2025|reason=Not all of these are necessarily derived from Kalevala. "Pohjola" has other meanings, and "Kaleva" occurs in old place names.}} In addition, the Russian town of Ukhta was in 1963 renamed [[Kalevala, Russia|Kalevala]]. In the United States a small community founded in 1900 by Finnish immigrants is named [[Kaleva, Michigan]]; many of the street names are taken from the ''Kalevala''.

The banking sector of Finland has had at least three ''Kalevala''-related brands: [[Sampo Bank]] (name changed to Danske Bank in late 2012), [[OP-Pohjola Group]]{{Cn|date=March 2025|reason="Pohjola" can refer to the north, and is not necessarily related to the Kalevala}} and Tapiola Bank.

The jewellery company [[Kalevala (brand)|Kalevala Koru]] was founded in 1935 on the 100th anniversary of the publication of the ''Old Kalevala''. It specialises in the production of unique and culturally important items of jewellery. It is co-owned by the [[Kalevala Women's League]] and offers artistic scholarships to a certain number of organisations and individuals every year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kalevalakoru.fi/yritys|title=Kalevala Koru Oy – Company information.|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729175942/http://www.kalevalakoru.fi/yritys|archive-date=29 July 2010}}</ref>

The Finnish dairy company [[Valio]] has a brand of [[ice-cream]] named Aino, specialising in more exotic flavours than their normal brand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pingviini.fi/aino|title=Aino Jäätelö – product page|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100810042226/http://www.pingviini.fi/aino|archive-date=10 August 2010}}</ref>

The construction group [[Lemminkäinen Group|Lemminkäinen]] was formed in 1910 as a [[Roofing material|roofing]] and [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]] company. The name was chosen specifically to emphasise that they were a wholly Finnish company. They now operate internationally.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lemminkainen.com/Company|title=Lemminkäinen Oyj – Company information|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901211833/http://www.lemminkainen.com/Company|archive-date=1 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lemminkainen.fi/WebRoot/10008509/page.aspx?id=10010119|title=Early 1950s informational video (Finnish)|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720190554/http://www.lemminkainen.fi/WebRoot/10008509/page.aspx?id=10010119|archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref>

====Finnish calendar====
[[Kalevala Day]] is celebrated in Finland on 28 February, to celebrate the publication date of Elias Lönnrot's first version of the ''Kalevala'' in 1835.<ref name="Society">{{cite web|url=http://www.kalevalaseura.fi/index_e.php |author=Kalevala Society |title=Kalevala Society Homepage |access-date=15 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202031751/http://www.kalevalaseura.fi/index_e.php |archive-date= 2 February 2012 }}</ref> By its other official name, the day is known as the Finnish Culture Day.<ref name="FinnishCulture">{{cite web|url=http://finland.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=160083&nodeid=37598&culture=en-US|author=thisisFINLAND|title=The Finnish flag|access-date=28 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124140209/http://finland.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=160083&nodeid=37598&culture=en-US|archive-date=24 January 2013}}</ref>

Several of the names in the ''Kalevala'' are celebrated as Finnish [[name day]]s. The name days themselves and the dates they fall upon have no direct relationship with the ''Kalevala'' itself; however, the adoption of the names became commonplace after the release of the ''Kalevala''.<ref name="University Almanac Office">{{cite web|first=Minna|last=Saarelma|url=http://almanakka.helsinki.fi/nimipaivat/NimAll2010.pdf|title=Kalevalan nimet suomalaisessa nimipäiväkalenterissa – pp31-36(58–68)|access-date=18 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010211555/http://almanakka.helsinki.fi/nimipaivat/NimAll2010.pdf|archive-date=10 October 2010}}</ref>

===Art===
[[File:Akseli Gallen-Kallela - Kullervo Cursing - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|150px|The tragedy of [[Kullervo]] has been a source of inspiration for several artists. <small>(''Kullervo's Curse'', Gallen-Kallela, 1899)</small>]]
Several artists have been influenced by the ''Kalevala'', most notably [[Akseli Gallen-Kallela]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=165995&contentlan=2&culture=en|title=Myth, magic and the museum|access-date=15 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328214959/http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=165995&contentlan=2&culture=en|archive-date=28 March 2012}}</ref>

[[Iittala]] group's [[Arabia (brand)|Arabia]] brand kilned a series of ''Kalevala'' commemorative plates, designed by [[Raija Uosikkinen]] (1923–2004). The series ran from 1976 to 1999, and the plates are highly sought-after collectibles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arabianmuseo.fi/web/museumarabia.nsf/pagesbyid/AB400AAD6BA255DDC2256F5C004B8944?OpenDocument|title=UOSIKKINEN, RAIJA|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225110401/http://www.arabianmuseo.fi/web/museumarabia.nsf/pagesbyid/AB400AAD6BA255DDC2256F5C004B8944?OpenDocument|archive-date=25 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arabia.fi/web/Arabiawww.nsf/file/tietoa_arabiasta_historia_history_longtext_eng/$file/History_longtext_ENG.pdf|title=Arabia history, text in English.|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614155309/http://www.arabia.fi/web/Arabiawww.nsf/file/tietoa_arabiasta_historia_history_longtext_eng/$file/History_longtext_ENG.pdf|archive-date=14 June 2011}}</ref>

One of the earliest artists to depict the ''Kalevala'' was [[Robert Wilhelm Ekman]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fng.fi/fng/html4/fi/art/collecti/people/r1/rekman/|title=Ekman, Robert Wilhelm|access-date=17 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720183859/http://www.fng.fi/fng/html4/fi/art/collecti/people/r1/rekman/|archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref>

In 1989, the fourth full translation of the ''Kalevala'' into English was published, illustrated by [[Björn Landström]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/lands.htm |title=Björn Landström |website=Books and Writers (kirjasto.sci.fi) |first=Petri |last=Liukkonen |publisher=[[Kuusankoski]] Public Library |location=Finland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125093359/http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/lands.htm |archive-date=25 January 2010 }}</ref>

===Literature===
The ''Kalevala'' has been translated over 150 times, into over 60 different languages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.folklorefellows.fi/netw/ffn16/translation.html |title=The Kalevala in translation |access-date=18 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111005554/http://www.folklorefellows.fi/netw/ffn16/translation.html |archive-date=11 January 2010 }}</ref> (See [[#Translations|§ translations]].)

====Re-tellings====
Finnish cartoonist Kristian Huitula illustrated a comic book adaptation of the ''Kalevala''. The ''Kalevala Graphic Novel'' contains the storyline of all the 50 chapters in original text form.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huitula.com/kalevala2|title=The Art of Huitula – The Kalevala Comic Book (The Kalevala Graphic Novel)|access-date=31 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712230826/http://www.huitula.com/kalevala2|archive-date=12 July 2011}}</ref>

Finnish cartoonist and children's writer [[Mauri Kunnas]] wrote and illustrated {{langnf|fi|Koirien Kalevala|The Canine Kalevala|links=no}}. The story is that of the ''Kalevala'', with the characters presented as [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphised]] dogs, wolves and cats. The story deviates from the full ''Kalevala'' to make the story more appropriate for children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maurikunnas.net/mauri_kunnas/teokset/translations/en_GB/the_canine_kalevala/|title=Mauri Kunnas, The Canine Kalevala – (Koirien Kalevala)|access-date=18 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107193303/http://www.maurikunnas.net/mauri_kunnas/teokset/translations/en_GB/the_canine_kalevala/|archive-date=7 November 2010}}</ref>

In the late 1950s, students from the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama performed excerpts from the Kalevala in a presentation to the poet laureate John Masefield at Oxford. Some images from this presentation can be viewed [https://catalogue.bruford.ac.uk/kalevala online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702171227/https://catalogue.bruford.ac.uk/kalevala |date=2 July 2023 }}.

The ''Kalevala'' inspired the American [[Disney]] cartoonist [[Don Rosa]] to draw a [[Donald Duck]] (who is himself a popular character in Finland) story based on the ''Kalevala'', called ''[[The Quest for Kalevala]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=34&s=265&ai=47103&ssd=9/25/2004&arch=y|title=Don Rosa and The Quest for Kalevala|access-date=18 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101012041920/http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=34&s=265&ai=47103&ssd=9%2F25%2F2004&arch=y|archive-date=12 October 2010}}</ref> The comic was released on the 150th anniversary of the ''Kalevala''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yle.fi/elavaarkisto/?s=s&a=2128|title=Don Rosan Kalevala-ankat|access-date=22 August 2010}}</ref>

====Works inspired by====
{{see also|
Finnish influences on Tolkien}}
Franz Anton Schiefner's translation of the ''Kalevala'' was one inspiration for [[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow]]'s 1855 poem ''[[The Song of Hiawatha]]'', which is written in a similar [[trochaic tetrameter]].<ref>Calhoun, Charles C. ''Longfellow: A Rediscovered Life''. Boston: Beacon Press, 2004: 108. {{ISBN|0-8070-7026-2}}.</ref><ref name=Irmscher108>Irmscher, Christoph. ''Longfellow Redux''. University of Illinois, 2006: 108. {{ISBN|978-0-252-03063-5}}.</ref>

[[Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald]]'s Estonian national epic ''Kalevipoeg'' was inspired by the ''Kalevala''. Both Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen are mentioned in the work, and the overall story of Kalevipoeg, Kalev's son, bears similarities to the Kullervo story.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elm.einst.ee/issue/17/finnish-kalevala-and-estonian-kalevipoeg/|title=Finnish Kalevala and Estonian Kalevipoeg|access-date=18 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091120135744/http://elm.einst.ee/issue/17/finnish-kalevala-and-estonian-kalevipoeg/|archive-date=20 November 2009}}</ref>

[[J. R. R. Tolkien]] claimed the ''Kalevala'' as one of his sources for ''[[The Silmarillion]]''. For example, the tale of Kullervo is the basis of [[Túrin Turambar]] in ''[[Narn i Chîn Húrin]]'', including the sword that speaks when the [[anti-hero]] uses it to commit suicide.<ref name="sanders-bbc"/> [[Aulë]], the Lord of Matter and the Master of All Crafts, was influenced by Ilmarinen, the Eternal Hammerer.<ref name="mankkinen-yle"/> Echoes of the ''Kalevala''{{'}}s characters, Väinämöinen in particular, can be found in [[Tom Bombadil]] of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.<ref name="mankkinen-yle">{{cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12622887|title=Taru sormusten herrasta on juuriltaan suomalaisempi kuin aiemmin on tiedetty – Tolkienilta löytyy vastineet Kullervolle, Sammolle ja Väinämöiselle|trans-title=''The Lord of the Rings'' has more Finnish roots than previously known – Tolkien has equivalents for Kullervo, Sampo and Väinämöinen|first=Jussi|last=Mankkinen|work=[[Yle]]|date=16 September 2022|access-date=16 September 2022|language=fi|archive-date=16 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916063211/https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12622887|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/tolkien_studies/v001/1.1petty.pdf|title=Identifying England's Lönnrot|journal = Tolkien Studies | volume =1 |year = 2004 | first = Anne C.| last = Petty |doi = 10.1353/tks.2004.0014 |pages = 78–81 |s2cid=51680664|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120011441/http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/tolkien_studies/v001/1.1petty.pdf| archive-date=20 November 2015|doi-access =free }}</ref><ref>{{citation | first = Jonathan B. | last = Himes | title = What Tolkien Really Did with the Sampo | journal = Mythlore | volume = 22.4 | issue = 86 | date = Spring 2000 | pages = 69–85 | url = https://dc.swosu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1342&context=mythlore | access-date = 13 August 2018 | archive-date = 13 August 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180813210242/https://dc.swosu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1342&context=mythlore | url-status = live }}</ref>

Poet and playwright [[Paavo Haavikko]] took influence from the ''Kalevala'', including in his poem ''Kaksikymmentä ja yksi'' (1974), and the TV drama ''Rauta-aika'' (1982).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/haavikko.htm |title=Paavo Haavikko |website=Books and Writers (kirjasto.sci.fi) |first=Petri |last=Liukkonen |publisher=[[Kuusankoski]] Public Library |location=Finland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129041605/http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/haavikko.htm |archive-date=29 November 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://artikkelihaku.kansallisbiografia.fi/artikkeli/4828/|title=Haavikko, Paavo (1931–2008)|access-date=18 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715062247/http://artikkelihaku.kansallisbiografia.fi/artikkeli/4828/|archive-date=15 July 2009}}</ref>

American science fiction and fantasy authors [[L. Sprague de Camp]] and [[Fletcher Pratt]] used the ''Kalevala'' as source materials for their 1953 fantasy novella "[[The Wall of Serpents]]". This is the fourth story in the authors' [[Harold Shea]] series, in which the hero and his companions visit various mythic and fictional worlds. In this story, the characters visit the world of the Kalevala, where they encounter characters from the epic, drawn with a skeptical eye.

[[Emil Petaja]] was an American science fiction and fantasy author of Finnish descent. His best known works, known as the ''Otava Series'', were a series of novels based on the ''Kalevala''. The series brought Petaja readers from around the world, while his mythological approach to science fiction was discussed in scholarly papers presented at academic conferences.<ref>Kailo, Kaarina. "Spanning the Iron and Space Ages: Emil Petaja's Kalevala-based fantasy tales" ''Kanadan Suomalainen, Toronto, Canada: Spring, 1985.''.</ref> He has a further ''Kalevala'' based work which is not part of the series, entitled ''The Time Twister''.

British fantasy author [[Michael Moorcock]]'s sword and sorcery anti-hero, [[Elric of Melniboné]] was influenced by the character Kullervo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.multiverse.org/fora/showpost.php?s=cd0e5b39fac54cb1ac8a400c60a700fd&p=15991&postcount=17|title=Elric of Melniboné Archive – Moorcock's website forum archive|access-date=18 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221023636/http://www.multiverse.org/fora/showpost.php?s=cd0e5b39fac54cb1ac8a400c60a700fd&p=15991&postcount=17|archive-date=21 December 2013}}</ref>

British fantasy author [[Michael Scott Rohan]]'s ''Winter of the World'' series feature Louhi as a major antagonist and include many narrative threads from the ''Kalevela''.

The web comic "A Redtail's Dream", written and illustrated by [[Minna Sundberg]], cites the ''Kalevala'' as an influence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.minnasundberg.fi/|title=A Redtail's Dream (minnasundberg.fi)|access-date=4 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906155842/http://www.minnasundberg.fi/|archive-date=6 September 2013}}</ref> (Physical edition 2014.<ref>Minna Sundberg, A Redtails dream, {{ISBN|978-91-637-4627-7}}</ref>)

The British science fiction writer [[Ian Watson (author)|Ian Watson]]'s ''Books of Mana'' duology, ''Lucky's Harvest'' and ''The Fallen Moon'', both contain references to places and names from the ''Kalevala''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aikakone.org/arkisto/sampo.htm|title=Kuinka ryöstin Sammon|access-date=18 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721235604/http://www.aikakone.org/arkisto/sampo.htm|archive-date=21 July 2011}}</ref>

In 2008, Vietnamese author and translator Bùi Viêt Hoa<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kalevalaseura.fi/en/the-kalevala-society/awards/epic-award/bui-viet-hoa/|title=Bui Viet Hoa|work=The Kalevala Society (Kalevalaseura)|access-date=April 9, 2021|archive-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411053042/https://kalevalaseura.fi/en/the-kalevala-society/awards/epic-award/bui-viet-hoa/}}</ref> published a piece of epic poetry ''[[The Children of Mon and Man]]'' ({{langx|vi|Con cháu Mon Mân}}),<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.juminkeko.fi/vietnam/content/etusivu_kuvat/monman.pdf | title = The Children of Mon and Man | publisher = Juminkeko | access-date = April 9, 2021 | language = vi | archive-date = 25 September 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210925034203/http://www.juminkeko.fi/vietnam/content/etusivu_kuvat/monman.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref> which delves into Vietnamese folk poetry and mythology, but was partially influenced by the ''Kalevala''.<ref name="yle"/> The work was written mainly in Finland<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.juminkeko.fi/vietnam/index.php?site=tausta&lang=fi | title = Vietnamin eepos: Tausta | publisher = Juminkeko | access-date = April 9, 2021 | language = fi | archive-date = 23 February 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200223192702/http://www.juminkeko.fi/vietnam/index.php?site=tausta&lang=fi | url-status = live }}</ref> and the [[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)|Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs]] co-financed it.<ref name="yle">{{cite web | url = https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-5728354 | title = Vietnam sai oman Kalevalansa Suomen avulla | work = [[YLE]] | date = March 1, 2009 | access-date = April 9, 2021 | language = fi | archive-date = 22 January 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210122004546/https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-5728354 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.juminkeko.fi/vietnam/index.php?site=sisalto&lang=fi | title = Vietnamin eepos: Monin ja Manin lapset | publisher = Juminkeko | access-date = April 9, 2021 | language = fi | archive-date = 23 February 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200223233953/http://www.juminkeko.fi/vietnam/index.php?site=sisalto&lang=fi | url-status = live }}</ref>

===Music===
[[Image:Sibelius with notes.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Jean Sibelius]] in the 1950s. Sibelius is Finland's most famous composer. Many of his works were influenced by the ''Kalevala''.]]

Finnish music has been greatly influenced by the ''Kalevala'', following in the tradition of the original song-poems.<ref name="Kalevalan Kultuurihistoria - Kalevala taiteessa – Musiikissa">{{cite web|url=http://www.kalevalaseura.fi/kaku/sivu.php?n=p1&s=p1&h=hp1&f=fp1|title=Kalevalan Kultuurihistoria – Kalevala taiteessa – Musiikissa|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302001600/http://www.kalevalaseura.fi/kaku/sivu.php?n=p1&s=p1&h=hp1&f=fp1|archive-date=2 March 2010}}</ref>

====Classical music====
The first recorded example of a musician influenced by the ''Kalevala'' is [[Filip von Schantz]]. In 1860, he composed the Kullervo Overture. The piece premièred at the opening of a new theatre in Helsinki on November of the same year. Von Schantz's work was followed by [[Robert Kajanus]]' ''Kullervo's Funeral March'' and the symphonic poem ''[[Aino (Kajanus)|Aino]]'' in 1880 and 1885, respectively. ''Aino'' is credited with inspiring Jean Sibelius to investigate the richness of the ''Kalevala''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kalevalaseura.fi/kaku/sivu.php?n=p1a1&s=p1a1s1&h=hp1a1&f=fp1s|title=Ensimmäiset Kalevala-aiheiset sävellykset|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720190340/http://www.kalevalaseura.fi/kaku/sivu.php?n=p1a1&s=p1a1s1&h=hp1a1&f=fp1s|archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref> ''[[Die Kalewainen in Pochjola]]'', the first opera freely based upon the ''Kalevala'', was composed by [[Karl Müller-Berghaus]] in 1890.<ref name="city">[http://www.turku.fi/uutinen/2016-02-29_die-kalewainen-pochjola-127-vuotta-kadoksissa-ollut-ooppera-ensi-iltaan-turussa Die Kalewainen in Pochjola: 127 vuotta kadoksissa ollut ooppera ensi-iltaan Turussa Suomi 100 -juhlavuonna.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306114702/http://www.turku.fi/uutinen/2016-02-29_die-kalewainen-pochjola-127-vuotta-kadoksissa-ollut-ooppera-ensi-iltaan-turussa |date=6 March 2016 }} City of Turku, 29 February 2016. {{in lang|fi}}</ref>

[[Jean Sibelius]] is the best-known ''Kalevala''-influenced classical composer. Twelve of Sibelius' best-known works are based upon or influenced by the ''Kalevala'', including his ''[[Kullervo (Sibelius)|Kullervo]]'', a tone poem for soprano, baritone, chorus and orchestra composed in 1892.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kalevalaseura.fi/kaku/sivu.php?n=p1a1&s=p1a1s2&h=hp1a1&f=fp1s|title=Jean Sibelius ja Kalevala|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720190352/http://www.kalevalaseura.fi/kaku/sivu.php?n=p1a1&s=p1a1s2&h=hp1a1&f=fp1s|archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref> Sibelius also composed the music of {{langnf|fi|Jääkärimarssi|The Jäger March|links=no}} to words written by Finnish soldier and writer [[Heikki Nurmio]]. The march features the line {{langnf|fi|Me nousemme kostona Kullervon|We shall rise in vengeance like that of Kullervo's|links=no}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.polyteknikkojenkuoro.fi/levyt/suomelle/#jaakarimarssi|title=Suomelle – isänmaallisia lauluja|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091104124150/http://www.polyteknikkojenkuoro.fi/levyt/suomelle/#jaakarimarssi|archive-date=4 November 2009}}</ref>

Other classical composers influenced by the ''Kalevala'':
* [[Einojuhani Rautavaara]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tampere.fi/kirjasto/musiikki/21msuom.htm|title=SUOMALAISTA KALEVALA-AIHEISTA MUSIIKKIA|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207110633/http://www.tampere.fi/kirjasto/musiikki/21msuom.htm|archive-date=7 December 2008}}</ref>
* [[Leevi Madetoja]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fennicagehrman.fi/comp_madetoja.htm|title=Leevi Madetoja|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051231233112/http://www.fennicagehrman.fi/comp_madetoja.htm|archive-date=31 December 2005}}</ref>
* [[Uuno Klami]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fennicagehrman.fi/comp_klami.htm|title=Uuno Klami|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727015255/http://www.fennicagehrman.fi/comp_klami.htm|archive-date=27 July 2011}}</ref>
* [[Tauno Marttinen]]<ref name="Kalevalan Kultuurihistoria - Kalevala taiteessa – Musiikissa"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://opera.stanford.edu/Marttinen/main.html|title=Tauno Marttinen - stanford.edu|access-date=22 August 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715063243/http://opera.stanford.edu/Marttinen/main.html|archive-date=15 July 2010}}</ref>
* [[Aulis Sallinen]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.finlit.fi/kalevala/index.php?m=145&s=274&l=2|title=The Kalevala in modern art|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524100707/http://www.finlit.fi/kalevala/index.php?m=145&s=274&l=2|archive-date=24 May 2011}}</ref>
* [[Veljo Tormis]]<ref name="tormis">{{Cite web|url=http://www.tormis.ee/VTindex.html|title=Veljo Tormis data bank|access-date=26 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329232114/http://www.tormis.ee/VTindex.html|archive-date=29 March 2010}}</ref>

====Folk metal====
A number of [[folk metal]] bands have drawn on the ''Kalevala'' heavily for inspiration. In 1993, the Finnish bands [[Amorphis]] and [[Sentenced]] released two [[concept album]]s, ''[[Tales from the Thousand Lakes]]'' and ''[[North from Here]]'' respectively, which were the first of many ''Kalevala''-inspired albums that have followed since. Amorphis's 2009 album ''[[Skyforger (album)|Skyforger]]'' also draws heavily on the ''Kalevala''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metal-invader.com/interviews/Amorphis-2007-08-20/interview.php|title=Metal Invader – Amorphis interview|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203102038/http://metal-invader.com/interviews/Amorphis-2007-08-20/interview.php|archive-date=3 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://amorphis.net|title=Amorphis official site|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821081621/http://amorphis.net/|archive-date=21 August 2010}}</ref> The Finnish folk metal band [[Ensiferum]] have released songs such as "Old Man" and "Little Dreamer", which are influenced by the ''Kalevala''. The third track of their ''[[Dragonheads]]'' EP, entitled "Kalevala Melody", is an instrumental piece following the rhythm of the Kalevala metre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ensiferum.com/e_html/e_news.htm |title=Ensiferum – News |access-date=22 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418054431/http://www.ensiferum.com/e_html/e_news.htm |archive-date=18 April 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ensiferum.com/e_html/e_history.htm |title=Ensiferum – History |access-date=22 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113121556/http://www.ensiferum.com/e_html/e_history.htm |archive-date=13 January 2008 }}</ref> Another Finnish folk metal band, [[Turisas]], have adapted several verses from song nine of the ''Kalevala'', "The Origin of Iron", for the lyrics of their song "Cursed Be Iron", which is the third track of the album ''[[The Varangian Way]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turisas.fi/tvw.html|title=Turisas official site – The Varangian Way|access-date=22 August 2010}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Finnish metal band [[Amberian Dawn]] use lyrics inspired by the ''Kalevala'' on their album ''[[River of Tuoni]]'', as well as on its successor, ''[[The Clouds of Northland Thunder]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.powerofmetal.dk/interviews09/amberian_dawn_interview.htm|title=Amberian Dawn interview – powerofmetal.dk|access-date=22 August 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719130848/http://www.powerofmetal.dk/interviews09/amberian_dawn_interview.htm|archive-date=19 July 2011}}</ref> On 3 August 2012, Finnish folk metal band [[Korpiklaani]] released a new album entitled ''[[Manala (album)|Manala]]''. Jonne Järvelä from the band said, "{{lang|fi|Manala|italic=no}} is the realm of the dead – the underworld in Finnish mythology. {{lang|fi|Tuonela, Tuoni, Manala|italic=no}} and {{lang|fi|Mana|italic=no}} are used synonymously. This place is best known for its appearance in the Finnish national epic ''Kalevala'', on which many of our new songs are based."{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

====Other musical genres====
In the mid-1960s, the [[progressive rock]] band Kalevala was active within Finland and in 1974, the now prolific singer-songwriter [[Jukka Kuoppamäki]] released the song "Väinämöinen". These were some of the first pieces of modern popular music inspired by the ''Kalevala''.

In 1998, [[Ruth MacKenzie]] recorded the album ''Kalevala: Dream of the Salmon Maiden'', a song cycle covering the story of [[Aino (mythology)|Aino]] and her choice to refuse the hand of the sorcerer Väinämöinen, instead transforming herself into a salmon. MacKenzie has continued to perform the piece live.

The Karelian Finnish folk music group [[Värttinä]] has based some of its lyrics on motifs from the ''Kalevala''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.varttina.com/main.site?action=siteupdate/view&id=10|title=Värttinä – Members|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100811061044/http://www.varttina.com/main.site?action=siteupdate%2Fview&id=10|archive-date=11 August 2010}}</ref> The [[Vantaa Chamber Choir]] have songs influenced by the ''Kalevala''. Their ''Kalevala''-themed third album, ''Marian virsi'' (2005), combines contemporary folk with traditionally performed folk poetry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kamarikuoro.com/marian_virsi.php|title=Vantaa Chamber Choir – Marian virsi.|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713133651/http://www.kamarikuoro.com/marian_virsi.php|archive-date=13 July 2011}}</ref>

In 2003, the Finnish progressive rock quarterly Colossus and French [[Musea Records]] commissioned 30 progressive rock groups from around the world to compose songs based on parts of the ''Kalevala''. The publication assigned each band with a particular song from the ''Kalevala'', which the band was free to interpret as they saw fit. The result, titled ''Kalevala'', is a three-disc, multilingual, four-hour epic telling.

In the beginning of 2009, in celebration of the 160th anniversary of the ''Kalevala''{{'}}s first published edition, the Finnish Literature Society and the [[Kalevala Society]] premièred ten new and original works inspired by the ''Kalevala''. The works included poems, classical and contemporary music and artwork. A book was published by the Finnish Literature Society in conjunction with the event and a large exhibition of ''Kalevala''-themed artwork and cultural artefacts was put on display at the [[Ateneum]] museum in Helsinki.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kirjat.finlit.fi/index.php?showitem=2164|title=Taiteilijoiden Kalevala|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720181140/http://kirjat.finlit.fi/index.php?showitem=2164|archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref>

In 2017, a New York-based production ''Kalevala the Musical'' premiered in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Finland. The production featured original pop, folk and world music score written by Johanna Telander. The concert version was performed across the United States and Finland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Maija-Anttila-With-Soulgaze-Films-Presents-KALEVALA-The-Musical-In-Concert-20180105|title=Maija Anttila With Soulgaze Films Presents KALEVALA The Musical in Concert|author=BWW News Desk|website=BroadwayWorld.com|language=en|access-date=7 February 2019|archive-date=9 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209123838/https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Maija-Anttila-With-Soulgaze-Films-Presents-KALEVALA-The-Musical-In-Concert-20180105|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Film and television===
In 1959, a joint Finnish-Soviet production entitled ''[[Sampo (film)|Sampo]]'', also known as ''The Day the Earth Froze'', was released, inspired by the story of the ''Sampo'' from the ''Kalevala'', which is also featured in a 1993 episode of ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053240/|title=IMDB page for "The day the earth froze"|website=[[IMDb]]|access-date=22 August 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825044653/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053240/|archive-date=25 August 2010}}</ref>

In 1982, the Finnish Broadcasting Company ([[YLE]]) produced a television [[mini-series]] called {{langnf|fi|Rauta-aika|The Age of Iron|links=no}}, with music composed by [[Aulis Sallinen]] and book by Paavo Haavikko. The series was set "during the Kalevala times" and based upon events which take place in the ''Kalevala''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yle.fi/tv2draama/rautaaika/|title=RAUTA-AIKA Neljä vuotta, neljä osaa.|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413130653/http://www.yle.fi/tv2draama/rautaaika/|archive-date=13 April 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://akas.imdb.com/title/tt0190919/|title=IMDB page for "Rauta-Aika"|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611003611/http://akas.imdb.com/title/tt0190919/|archive-date=11 June 2011}}</ref> The series' part 3/4 won [[Prix Italia]] in 1983.

The martial arts film ''[[Jadesoturi]]'', also known as ''Jade Warrior'', released in Finland on 13 October 2006, was based upon the ''Kalevala'' and set in Finland and China.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416871/|title=IMDB page for "Jadesoturi"|website=[[IMDb]]|access-date=22 August 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808113316/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416871/|archive-date=8 August 2010}}</ref> Also, the 2013 film ''[[Kalevala: The New Era]]'', directed by [[Jari Halonen]], takes place both in the ancient land of the Kalevala and also in modern Finland. The film, made with a budget of €250,000, turned out to be a [[box-office bomb]] and received a mostly negative reception from critics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yle.fi/a/3-6956386|title=Jari Halosen Kalevala floppasi|work=[[Yle]]|date=27 November 2013|access-date=26 September 2023|language=fi|archive-date=26 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926151030/https://yle.fi/a/3-6956386|url-status=live}}</ref>

In "Chapter 17: The Apostate", the [[The Mandalorian (season 3)#Episodes|first episode of the third season]] of ''[[The Mandalorian]]'' series, [[The Mandalorian (character)|Din Djarin]] meets with [[Bo-Katan Kryze|Bo-Katan]] in an old Mandalorian castle, which is located in the Mandalore system planet called Kalevala.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/mandalorian-season-3-what-happened-to-bo-katan|title=Mandalorian Season 3's Biggest Twist Has Sidelined Its Greatest Character|first=Ryan|last=Britt|website=Inverse|date=1 March 2023|access-date=3 March 2023|archive-date=3 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303064522/https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/mandalorian-season-3-what-happened-to-bo-katan|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="slash">{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1214465/the-mandalorian-season-3-premiere-introduces-kalevala-from-star-wars-the-clone-wars/|title=The Mandalorian Season 3 Premiere Brings A Star Wars Planet You've Heard About Into Live-Action|first=Ryan|last=Scott|website=Slash Film|date=1 March 2023|access-date=3 March 2023|archive-date=2 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302164855/https://www.slashfilm.com/1214465/the-mandalorian-season-3-premiere-introduces-kalevala-from-star-wars-the-clone-wars/|url-status=live}}</ref> The same planet has also previously been mentioned in ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)|The Clone Wars]]'' series.<ref name="slash"/>

In August 2024, it was announced that [[Antti Jokinen]] has been attached to direct the upcoming film ''{{ill|Kalevala: The Story of Kullervo|fi|Kalevala: Kullervon tarina}}'', and {{ill|Elias Salonen|fi}} has been cast as the title character in the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20103890|title=Yli 20 vuotta odotettu kotimainen suurelokuva toteutuu – Nurmekseen nousee iso Kalevala-kylä|first1=Helmi|last1=Nykänen|first2=Karina|last2=Huttunen|work=[[Yle]]|date=9 August 2024|access-date=9 August 2024|language=fi}}</ref> The film will be premiered at the beginning of 2026.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.is.fi/viihde/art-2000011064156.html|title=Tältä näyttää odotettu Kalevala-elokuva – ensimmäinen traileri julki|first=Iiro|last=Myllymäki|work=[[Ilta-Sanomat]]|date=28 February 2025|access-date=1 March 2025|language=fi}}</ref>

===Military===
[[Heinrich Himmler]] had designated the 41th Waffen SS Division as [[Finnish volunteers in the Waffen-SS#Finnish SS-Company|Grenadier Division Kalevala]].<ref>Vaarallisilla teillä : viimeiset suomalaiset SS-miehet - Lappalainen, Niilo, 1927-2001 ; Werner Söderström osakeyhtiö 1998 ISBN 9510226653</ref><ref>Bruce Quarrie, Hitler's Samurai: The Waffen-SS in Action, 2ª ed., Patrick Stephens Limited, 1984, pp. 33-34, ISBN 0-85059-723-4.</ref>