Itsenäisyyspäivä!

Such a difficult world, eh? I dare you to pronounce it in Sweidsh: Självständighetsdagen!

Well, I’d better start learning how to say that word, since it means Independence Day, maybe the most important Finnish celebration throughout the year!

Every year, on December 6th, Finns celebrate the day, the “Declaration of Independence” was approved by the Parliament of Finland, back in 1917, claiming their own sovereignty from Russia.

What happens on Itsenäisyyspäivä?

During the day, war memorials and religious services are held. In Helsinki and in the largest cities two big parades also take place: one by the Finnish Defense Forces and a torch cavalcade held by university students.

The Presidential Party

In the evening, at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, a reception is held: usually members of parliament, political representatives, ambassadors, and people who distinguished themselves in different fields (business, arts, sports...), a total of around 2000 people, are invited. The dress code is, of course, very elegant, and invitees are allowed to wear regional folk costumes, emphasizing Finland’s traditions. The reception is broadcasted on national television since 1967 and almost every Finn follows it: in 2017, 3.6 million Finns followed the event on TV, out of a population of 5.5 million! This year the presidential couple, President Sauli Niinistö and First Lady Jenni Haukio, have invited all of Finland to celebrate together with them in a new kind of broadcast event. Isn’t that lovely?

In households, families get together, place white and blue candles in the windows, drink glögi (see here what's glögi!) and eat gingerbread cookies and joulutorttu, pluffy plum tarts. Delicious! (one of my classmates makes the best joulutorttu, hope to see her soon to have some! 😊 )

Joulutorttu <3

Also, the tradition is to watch Tuntematon Sotilas (The Unknown Soldier), a movie from 1955 based on a very famous Finnish novel.

This whole mood of both solemnity and enjoyment brings a spark in the cold and dark Finnish winter (which is getting darker and darker – I don’t remember what the sun is like!).

The Finnish Flag

As in every other Flag Day, on December 6th flags are raised!

Finnish flag (Suomen lippu), adopted for the first time in May 1918, is described as “the blue of our lakes and the white snow of our winters”: again, we can see the strong bond Finns have with their lovely nature. Indeed, the Finnish anthem (Maamme – our land) says

Ei laaksoa, ei kukkulaa, ei vettä rantaa rakkaampaa, kuin kotimaa tää pohjoinen, maa kallis isien.

No rising hill, or mountain grand, No sloping dale, no northern strand, There is, more loved, to be found, Than this — our fathers’ ground.

There are very precise laws about the flag: anyone can fly the Finnish flag, whenever they want, but usually, on Flag days, the flag must be raised at 8AM and lowered at sunset, but no later than 9PM. Only in Midsummer, flag is flown from 6PM of Midsummer’s eve until 9PM of the actual day, symbolizing that during that night darkness does not belong to Finland. Check out here the Flag days for next year, so you can always check out what is the reason to celebrate, when you see a Finnish flag flying!

Paljon onnea, Suomi! 💙

Käymisen arvoisiin paikkoihin ei ole oikotietä.

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.

-Mike