How does the final canto of the Kalevala portray the decline of paganism?

In the final canto of the Kalevala, the decline of paganism is portrayed through the symbolic transition of power from the ancient sage Väinämöinen to a new, Christian-aligned figure.1

The narrative depicts the maiden Marjatta giving birth to a son who is subsequently baptized as the king of Karelia. This event signals the end of the mythological era dominated by pagan magic and shamanic tradition. Recognizing the arrival of this new order, the pagan hero Väinämöinen—a master of magic songs and the kantele—chooses to depart from Finland. His exit, characterized by leaving behind his instrument and his songs, serves as a definitive conclusion to the pre-Christian world, effectively clearing the way for the emerging religious and cultural shift.12