RUNEBERG'S DAY

Johan Ludvig Runeberg, born February 5th, 1804 in Jakobstad, Finland, is regarded as the national poet of Finland, although he wrote all his works in Swedish. Every Finn knows his poem Vårt land ('Our Land'), in Finnish Oi maamme, the national anthem of Finland. It was set to music by the German composer Fredrik Pacius (1809-1891). Pacius is known as the "Father of Finnish music".

Here is the first verse:

Swedish:

Vårt land, vårt land, vårt fosterland,

Ljud högt, o dyra ord!

Ej lyfts en höjd mot himlens rand,

Ej sänks en dal, ej sköljs en strand,

Mer älskad än vår bygd i nord,

Än våra fäders jord.

Finnish:

Oi maamme, Suomi, synnyinmaa,

soi, sana kultainen!

Ei laaksoa, ei kukkulaa,

ei vettä rantaa rakkaampaa,

kuin kotimaa tää pohjoinen,

maa kallis isien!

English:

Our land, our land, our fatherland,

Sound loud, O name of worth!

No mount that meets the heaven's band,

No hidden vale, no wavewashed strand,

Is loved, as is our native North,

Our own forefathers' earth.

Fredrik Pacius


Statue of Runeberg in Borgå (Porvoo)