New Kalevala Learning Website Now Available in English

The multilingual learning website Kalevala – A Living Epic, produced by the Finnish Literature Society (SKS) and the Kalevala Society, presents the Kalevala, its significance, and its background in an accessible way.  Based on the latest research on the epic, the online publication invites young people across Europe and other interested audiences to reflect on the relationships between the Kalevala and other epic traditions.

In addition to the newest language version, English, the website is available in Finnish, Swedish, and Karelian. Additional language versions and further content, such as learning activities and a folk music soundscape inspired by the Kalevala, will be added in the future. The learning site offers accessible information about the Kalevala and its author Elias Lönnrot, the Kalevala’s European dimensions, its influence on the arts, and its Karelian background.

In 2024, the Kalevala was awarded the European Heritage Label (EHL). The label has been granted by the European Commission since 2013. One of the award criteria is to increase knowledge and dialogue about Europe’s shared and diverse cultural heritage, particularly in digital formats.

The EHL recognition granted to the Kalevala is connected to the multi-year project “Epic Kaleidoscope,” aimed at young people aged 11–19 across Europe. During the project, young participants are encouraged to create their own interpretations of the Kalevala, its characters, and its stories, while also reflecting on the diversity and contradictions within the Kalevala and other epic traditions.

The digital and open learning environment Kalevala – A Living Epic was created to support these interpretations. The multilingual website is based on current research on the Kalevala and the Finnish-Karelian runo-song tradition. Thanks to its multilingual nature, the site can be used by young people and other interested audiences across Europe.