The Kalevala · Chapter
Rune XXV: Wainamoinen’s Wedding-Songs explained
Ilmarinen returns home with his bride from Pohyola, greeted by Lakko and the household.
What happens
Ilmarinen returns home with his bride from Pohyola, greeted by Lakko and the household. Wainamoinen sings wedding songs and praises the bridegroom and the bride's companion. After the festivities, Wainamoinen's sledge breaks, and he journeys to Tuoni's realm to retrieve a magical auger, then repairs his sledge and returns home.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Marriage
The chapter centers on Ilmarinen's wedding and the celebration of the union.
Craftsmanship and Creation
Wainamoinen repairs his sledge through song and magic, demonstrating creation through craftsmanship.
Fate and Tragedy
Wainamoinen's journey to Tuoni's realm touches on themes of death and the underworld.
Characters to notice
- Ilmarinen
Returns home as the bridegroom with his bride from Sariola.
- Wainamoinen
Sings wedding songs, later repairs his sledge after a journey to Tuoni's realm.
- Lakko
Hostess of Wainola, greets Ilmarinen and the bride with a welcoming speech.
- Louhi
Mentioned as the mother of the bride in Pohyola.
Key passages
“Now at last upon a morning Of a lovely day in winter, Heard they from the woods the rumble Of a snow-sledge swiftly bounding.”
Finally, on a beautiful winter morning, they heard the sound of a snow-sledge approaching from the forest.
Describes the long-awaited arrival of Ilmarinen and his bride.
“Wainamoinen, old and truthful, Song-deliverer of Northland, Swung himself upon the fur-bench Of his magic sledge of copper, Straightway hastened to his hamlet, Singing as he journeyed onward.”
Wainamoinen, the ancient and truthful singer of the North, climbed onto the fur seat of his copper sledge and hurried home, singing as he traveled.
Wainamoinen departs after the wedding, singing songs.
“Thereupon old Wainamoinen, The eternal wisdom-singer, Went again to Mana’s empire, To the kingdom of Tuoni, Crossed the sable stream of Death-land, To the castles of Manala, Found the auger of Tuoni, Brought the instrument in safety.”
Then old Wainamoinen, the eternal singer of wisdom, journeyed again to the realm of Mana and Tuoni, crossed the dark river of death, and retrieved Tuoni's auger safely.
Wainamoinen's journey to the underworld to obtain a magical tool.