Kalevala Day (Finnish Culture Day) 28th of February

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“Words shall not be hid
nor spells buried
might shall not sink underground
though the mighty go.”
― Elias Lönnrot, The Kalevala

Kalevala Day (Finnish Culture Day) 28th of February

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The Kalevala or The Kalewala (/ˌkɑːləˈvɑːlə/; Finnish: [ˈkɑle̞ʋɑlɑ]) is a 19th-century work of epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Karelian and Finnish oral folklore and mythology.

It is regarded as the national epic of Karelia and Finland and is one of the most significant works of Finnish literature. The Kalevala played an instrumental role in the development of the Finnish national identity, the intensification of Finland’s language strife and the growing sense of nationality that ultimately led to Finland’s independence from Russia in 1917.

The first version of The Kalevala (called The Old Kalevala) was published in 1835. The version most commonly known today was first published in 1849 and consists of 22,795 verses, divided into fifty songs (Finnish: runot). The title can be interpreted as “The Land of Kaleva” or “Kalevia”.

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Shrove Tuesday (28th of February)

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“I started a Shrove Tuesday
and then by Ash Wednesday something had happened
and I had a bottle of beer”
Mick McCarthy

Shrove Tuesday (28th of February)

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Shrove Tuesday (known in some countries as Pancake Tuesday or Pancake day) is a day in February or March preceding Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), which is celebrated in some countries by consuming pancakes. In others, especially those where it is called Mardi Gras or some translation thereof, this is a carnival day, and also the last day of “fat eating” or “gorging” before the fasting period of Lent.

In Finland, Shrovetide took on a new meaning after the Reformation started by the German Martin Luther (1483-1546) from ca 1520 on. In the rural calendar, it marked the date by which many springtime tasks and duties, like spinning etc, should be brought to conclusion.

Nowadays Shrovetide is more of a secular festival season, a time for winter sport enthusiasts as well as for feasts of fatty foods, although the Lenten fasting ritual is not practiced among the Finnish Evangelical-Lutheran Church.

On Shrove Tuesday, children in many kindergartens and schools are taken to spend the day tobogganing, ice skating or cross-country or downhill skiing.

Popular Finnish Shrovetide desserts are Shrove buns, almond paste and whipped cream-filled sweet buns, which you will find sold in every bakery and store at Shrovetide, and Finnish oven-baked pancake served with jam. In Finland, the habit of eating Shrove buns can be dated back to the 17th century, but this tradition is even older in Sweden, where it originally came from.

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Stone (Camera Lucida) four

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“But which is the stone
that supports the bridge?”
Kublai Khan

Path of Stone

You may find the road ahead stony
Sometimes clean, sometimes moldy
But, if you ate your cup of minestrone
Then you’re strong, without a worry!

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Stone (Camera Lucida) two

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“But which is the stone
that supports the bridge?”
Kublai Khan

Treasure Stone

The secrets, from ages passed
Written, in the stone to last
Read it, really, really fast
Because it may end up
Another thing in the past

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Stone (Camera Lucida) six

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“But which is the stone
that supports the bridge?”
Kublai Khan

Simply Stones

I made a pile
A pile of rocks
Rocks cleaned clear
Clear as the day

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Stone (Camera Lucida) three

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“But which is the stone
that supports the bridge?”
Kublai Khan

Ancient Stone

Chiseled in stone
With fingers to the bone
By the ancient architects
Now left laying in neglect

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Stone (Camera Lucida) five

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“But which is the stone
that supports the bridge?”
Kublai Khan

Water and Stone

Fire and brimstone
Water and rock
Elements well known
So this,
Shouldn’t come as a shock:

Pour the water
On the fire
It will simmer down,
Eventually

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Remembering Leonard Nimoy (1931-2015)

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“Live long and prosper”
– Spock AKA Leonard Nimoy

Remembering Leonard Nimoy (1931-2015)

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“It’s only a television show”
– Maybe so, but it got me through the best of times and surely through the worst of times

“Vulcan honours us with your presence. We come to serve”
– Mr Spock had me at hello

“Never meet your heroes”
– Maybe true, but this particular hero I will regret not meeting for the rest of my life

“These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise, Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.”
– And I will keep watching until such time they put me out to pasture.

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Stone (Camera Lucida) one

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“But which is the stone
that supports the bridge?”
Kublai Khan

Stepping Stone

A leap of faith in one go
Into the great unknown
Follow the grey brick road
To where ever it may flow

1-stepping-stone

Mr Plow

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“I’m Mr. Plow and I’m here to say,
I’m the plowingest guy in the USA.
I got a big plow and I move a lot of things,
just like your cow if you have one!”
Homer Simpson

Mr Plow

When you are in trouble
And it’s snowing full throttle
No need to struggle
Just call on the double

Mr Plow

Here is how
Feel the wow
Before you raise
An eyebrow
All gone is
The snow

Mr Plow

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