Runonlaulun

Runonlaulun, in Finnish often rendered as runonlaulanta, is the traditional practice of performing runos—epic, narrative poems—through spoken or sung delivery. It is part of the Finnish and Finnic oral-poetic heritage and has historically served to preserve myth, history, and social knowledge across generations.

Performers, known as runonlaulajat, typically deliver verses with a steady cadence, relying on formulaic language, alliteration, parallelism, and a distinctive Kalevala-influenced meter. The repertoire includes long heroic cycles and mythic tales, as well as shorter, didactic verses. In some regions, the singer may accompany the performance with a simple instrument such as the kantele, but many traditions emphasize unaccompanied singing.

Historically, the practice dates back to medieval and early modern Finland and Karelia. It was actively recorded by scholars in the 18th and 19th centuries; notably, Elias Lönnrot collected many runos whose combination formed the Kalevala. The tradition varied regionally and declined in some areas, but persisted in others, particularly in eastern Finland and Karelia, and has experienced revival and ongoing study in modern times.

Today, runonlaulun is studied in folklore and literary scholarship, and contemporary artists occasionally adapt runo traditions into music and poetry. It remains a symbol of Finland’s intangible cultural heritage and a link to historic Finnic storytelling.