Johan Ludvig Runeberg, born 05 February 1804 in Pietarsaari to a rather poor Swedish-speaking family, was a Finnish idealistic poet, who was highly respected in Finland and also achieved wide international fame. He was married with Fredrika Tengström and they had eight children.

At the age of eight Runeberg was sent to school in Oulu and was taken care of by his uncle. After the death of his uncle, he studied at Vaasa and at the university of Turku. In the 1820's his friends were among others, J.L. Snellman and Zacharias Topelius. Runeberg received his Master of Arts degree in 1827, from the Helsinki University, and became a lecturer of Rhetoric in 1830.

His first collection of poems "Dikter" (1830), showed his deep love for the Finnish landscape and for modest and persistent people of the backwoods. Runeberg wrote the great Finnish epic poem "Tales of Ensign Stål", about the Finland war of 1808-09. The loss of the war became a secondary matter, when stories about brave fighting soldiers and patriotism where written about in Runebergs poems. His poems also inspired the promoters of the independence movement. The first poem in the epic Tales of Ensign Stål, "Our land (Maamme)", became the Finnish National Anthem.

In 1839 Runeberg received the Swedish Academy's highest award for poetry, and in 1847 he became a rector of the collage in Porvoo. During the last 13 years of his life, Runeberg was unable to write , because of his paralysis caused during a hunting trip in 1863. He died in Porvoo in 1877 and the death of this great poet was an occasion for national mourning. In 1882 his house was transformed into a museum.

"Runeberg's tart", a delicacy named after the poet, is served on Runeberg's Day. In the 1800's it was very common to name cakes after celebrity persons. However it is said that the Runerberg Tart was created by a cafe in Porvoo, where Runeberg had a liking for a little dry bun which he ate together with a glass of punch. Later on the café keeper created Runeberg's tart from that...

The statue of Runeberg is erected in Esplanadi Park which lies between the market square and Mannerheimintie in Helsinki.

In Finland, Runebergs Tarts (called Runebergin tortut) are traditionally eaten on Runeberg's Day. Runebergs Tarts are available for purchase at most grocery stores although many people do choose to bake them themselves. Click here to view the Recipe for Runebergs Tarts.
You may also want to visit the Finland Recipes section from where you will find more Traditional Finnish Recipes.

Public Transportation runs according to the normal timetable for the day of the week on which this event occurs.

Finland shops and services run their normal opening hours according to the day of the week, on which this calendar event occurs.
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