Mikael Agricola Day (Finnish Language Day)

Finnish Language DayThe great Finnish enlightener Mikael Agricola was born in the parish of Pernaya in Nuland. He received his education at the University of Wittgenburg (Germany). In 1539 he became rector of the Theological Academy of Turku, and in 1554 - the first Lutheran bishop of Finland.

Monument to Michael Agricole

Agricola is credited with creating the written Finnish language. In 1542, the first Finnish book, ABC-Kirja, was published. (This is the year of the birth of the Finnish language.) The basis of Agricola took the Karelian language and dialect, which was spoken by the inhabitants of the province of Turku.

The second book was a prayer book in Finnish. In 1548 Agricola translated the New Testament. In the preface, he wrote: “The language of my people has always existed, I consider it my merit only to put it on paper.”

The national flag is raised in Finland on April 9.