When Is Finland’s Independence Day- When the cabinet met in November 1919, they decided that Finland’s independence day would be December 6. On that day in 1917, the Finnish Parliament passed the Declaration of Independence, so this choice was important in history. Choosing that date helped with bigger efforts to build the country at the time. In May 1918, the blue and white flag was chosen by the Parliament as the official flag of Finland. People on both sides of the 1918 Finnish Civil War suggested May 16 or November 15 as possible dates for Independence Day. One reason December 6 was picked was to avoid a fight.
Independence Day has always been a day off for Finland in government offices, schools, and other places of business. In 1929, it was made a formal holiday for everyone in the country. Many of the traditions that people do on Independence Day go back to the early years of independence, and some go back even further. Finland has official ceremonies for Independence Day that are covered by the country’s news media. Yle, the national broadcasting company, shows the parade of the Finnish Defense Forces and services at all kinds of churches to honor Independence Day. Newspapers carry lists of people who have been recognized or promoted by the President of Finland in the armed forces.
The Independence Day of Finland
Many of the traditions that Finns do on Independence Day go back to the early years of the country’s independence. Some traditions go back even further, but they are now closely linked to Finland’s Independence Day. Most of Finland’s Independence Day celebrations are official events that get a lot of attention from the country’s main news outlets.
Yle, the national broadcasting company, shows the parade of the Finnish Defense Forces and services at all kinds of churches to honor Independence Day. In the Defense Forces, newspapers also print lists of people who have been honored or promoted by the Finnish president. The Independence Day reception, which is also shown on TV, is the main event of the day. The president of Finland is in charge of it. We’ll talk more about this reception soon.
For example, on Independence Day in Finnish university towns, students hold lit torches and wear white hats as they march through the streets. The march in Helsinki starts at 5 p.m. at the Hietalahti cemetery, passes by the Presidential Palace, and ends around 6 p.m. in Senate Square.
5 Finnish Independence Day Traditions You Should Know
#1: Candles: On Independence Day, white and blue candles have special meanings for us. A tradition that goes back to the 1800s, when two candles were used to represent Finnish nationalism, two candles are usually put near the window.
#2: War Graves: Finns light candles in cemeteries in all kinds of towns, which makes the memorials look beautiful. Town officials honor war graves and memorial stones. Sometimes, students or kids hold a candle parade to show their respect.
Third: “The Unknown Soldier” (Tuntematon Sotilas), a movie based on Vaino Linna’s novel, shows what life was like in Finland during World War II. It is shown on YLE, Finland’s national broadcaster.
#4: Blue and White: Even though blue and white are our national colors, it’s not a surprise that they are also the theme colors for the event. It does a great job of showing what Finland is like and how it acts.
5. Presidential Independence Day Reception: At 7:00 p.m., the most-anticipated event of the day will happen. In honor of Independence Day, the official gala, called “Linnan juhlat” (the palace ball), will start today in Helsinki’s presidential palace. Every Finn is glued to their TV because of it.
How is Finnish Independence Day Celebrated?
Independence Day was first celebrated in the United States in 1919. It was a solemn event marked by special church services and patriotic speeches. These days, the celebration is livelier, and stores proudly show off the blue and white colors of the Finnish flag. To add to the holiday spirit, bakeries make cakes with blue and white icing.
Every year on Independence Day, the Finnish flag is raised on Tahtitorninmaki (“Observatory Hill”) in Helsinki to start the celebrations. A devotional service at Helsinki Cathedral is planned to happen at the same time as official visits to memorials for the Second World War. The yearly military parade led by members of the Finnish Defense Forces is one of the main events that people all over the country watch.
Many Finns watch the famous movie “The Unknown Soldier” (1955), which is based on Vaino Linna’s book of the same name. There was a director named Edvin Laine. Others choose to cook at home or do traditional winter activities in Finland. On July 4, many families light two candles in their windows at night as a tradition. It is said that this tradition began in the 1920s when Finnish soldiers were told that having two candles in the house would protect them from the Russians. It might be a tribute to the custom of lighting candles in windows on the birthday of the poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg to protest what people say is Russian persecution. A lot of people watch the president’s Independence Day show on TV today.
U.S. Embassy in Finland
On Tuesday, December 6, Finland celebrates its Independence Day. In addition to commemorating the country’s 1917 independence from Russia, many Finnish groups use the day to hold protests to further their own goals. Most of these events should go well, but some may provoke protests in response. In the past, these protests have sometimes turned into physical fights.
To ensure a safe Independence Day celebration, Finland’s police have put a lot of effort into watching over and controlling both planned and unplanned protests. However, the Embassy tells people to stay away from the following places where the protests are planned to happen.
The Embassy tells you to leave right away if you get involved in one of these protests. If that’s not possible and you think you’re in danger, look for cover if it’s available and call 112 for help.
A Very Short History of Finnish Independence
Lastly, Russia and Sweden controlled Finland before it became its own country. Between the Middle Ages and the early 1800s, Finland became part of Sweden. As part of Sweden’s fight against Napoleon in 1808, Russia invaded Finland. A year later, Finland was given to Russia and became the independent Grand Principality of Finland.
Russia ruled Finland until the upheavals in 1917. During this time, Finland started discussing becoming a sovereign, independent country. The deal was first announced on December 4, and two days later, on December 6, it was approved by the Finnish Parliament, making that day Independence Day.
Freedom Day in Finland is a time to remember and celebrate the war that almost took away the country’s freedom during the Second World War. On December 6, Finns celebrate a very important national holiday.
When did Finland gain its independence?
6 December 1917
Finland declared its independence from the Russian Empire on December 6, 1917, shortly after the Bolshevik Revolution.
Nationalism had already started to grow within Russia before Alexander II’s rule ended. But Alexander III, his loyal successor and a personal friend of Finland, faced much opposition from Russian nationalists who wanted to abolish Finland’s independence and make the Finns part of the Russian people. Russia was also worried about a united Germany forming south of the Baltic, which is why they tried to get Finland to help.
Legal experts in Russia said that any other Russian emperor with the same supreme powers could take away Finland’s autonomy rights at any time, even if Alexander I gave them to Finland as part of his supreme powers. Because of this, on February 15, 1899, Nicholas II released a manifesto in which he claimed that he had the power to make laws that would apply in Finland without the Diet’s approval, especially if those laws were harmful to Russian interests.
Because of direct efforts to make Russian more common, it was made the third official language in 1900. After this, Finland’s separate army was taken away in 1901, and Finns were forced to join the Russian army. More power was given to the ultranationalist governor-general, General Nikolay Bobrikov.
Does Finland celebrate Independence Day?
Why December 6th? In November 1919, the government of Finland decided that the country would celebrate its independence on December 6th. On this date in 1917, the Finnish parliament accepted the declaration of independence by the Finnish government.
Finland is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, officially known as the Republic of Finland. Its physical neighbors include Sweden to the west, Russia to the east, and Norway to the north. To the south, it borders Estonia, the Baltic Sea’s Gulf of Bothnia is to the west, and the Gulf of Finland is to the south.
Finland’s historical narrative describes the migration of a population from central Russia that had spent decades struggling against Swedish and Russian control. The Swedes, who wrote the earliest chronicles, wrote the majority of historical records of ethnic Finnish culture and events before and following the Swedish crusades.
Finland has been part of the Russian Empire since 1809. Nonetheless, movements in Finland wanted independence from Russia, which the Russian Revolution and defeats in World War I fueled. On December 6, 1917, the Parliament formally declared Finland an independent state.
When did Finland separate from Sweden?
1809
Finland and Sweden share a long history, similar legal systems, and an economic and social model. Finland was part of Sweden for almost 700 years from around 1150 until the Finnish War of 1809 after which Finland became an autonomous part of the Russian Empire as the Grand Duchy of Finland.
Birger Jarl concluded that integrating Finland into the Swedish world would necessitate a concerted effort. In 1249, he led a journey to the previously Christianized Tavastia (now Häme). Birger established the main Swedish colony by constructing a castle at Tavastia and defending the northern coast of the Gulf of Finland. Swedish settlers also went to the eastern shore of the Gulf of Bothnia.
Torgils Knutsson led an expedition to take control of all of Karelia and create a stronghold at Viipuri in 1293. The fight went on until 1323 when the Treaty of Pähkinäsaari (Nöteborg, today Petrokrepost) split the Russian and Swedish realms of control. The line, which extended ambiguously from the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland through the heart of Karelia and northwest to the Gulf of Bothnia, ended the crusades and established Finland’s membership in the Swedish realm.
Sweden dominated Finland according to Swedish values at the time. Castle building and taxation (initially in furs, then in grain, butter, and money) were both carried out. During the early Middle Ages, members of the royal family were frequently given Finland as a duchy. There arose two separate classes: the nobility and the clergy. Migration from Sweden bolstered the nobles, but the clergy formed a large native population. The first native-born bishop was chosen in 1291.
How old is Finland?
Finland was first settled around 9000 BC after the last Ice Age. During the Stone Age, various cultures emerged, distinguished by different styles of ceramics. The Bronze Age and Iron Ages were marked by contacts with other cultures in Fennoscandia and the Baltic region.
Finland has a harsh climate and is one of the world’s most northern and remote countries. It can be found in northern Europe. Almost two-thirds of the land is covered in dense woods, making it Europe’s most forested country. Finland, with its borders with Russia and a huge wilderness to the east, serves as a symbolic northern boundary between Western and Eastern Europe. Sweden and the Gulf of Bothnia are to the west.
From the 12th century until 1809, Finland was part of Sweden before becoming a grand duchy of Russia. On December 6, 1917, following the Russian Revolution, the Finns announced their independence. In the 1940s, Finland ceded the Petsamo (Pechenga) area, which had served as a passage to the ice-free Arctic coast, and a large chunk of southeastern Karelia to the Soviet Union (the lands that Finland gave up are now in Russia).
Who declared Finland’s independence?
After Russia was taken over by the Bolsheviks in November 1917 Parliament issued a declaration of independence for Finland on December 6, 1917, which was recognized by Lenin and his government on the last day of the year.
Finland claimed independence from the Russian Empire on December 6, 1917, just a few months after the Bolshevik Revolution. On May 7, 1919, Secretary of State Robert Lansing sent the United States’ recognition to Finnish Foreign Minister Rudolf Holsti. Because of its political security and ties to Germany, the United States was initially hesitant to recognize Finland.
Acting Secretary of State Frank L. Polk recognized Armas Herman Saastamoinen as the de facto Government of Finland’s temporary Extraordinary Envoy and Minister Plenipotentiary on May 27, 1919, formalizing diplomatic ties between the two countries. This happened during the U.S. During Woodrow Wilson’s administration, the Paris Peace Conference took place in Europe. On August 21, 1919, following President Wilson’s return, Saastamoinen’s appointment as Extraordinary Envoy and Minister Plenipotentiary was approved.
Following the events of 1917 that led to Finland’s independence and the civil War that followed, the United States and Finland established favorable diplomatic ties. During the 1920s, the two countries signed a series of agreements covering debt, trade, extradition, and other business and cultural links. Notably, Finland was the only country that continued to return World War I loans to the United States during the 1930s Great Depression.
On August 16, 2019, Assumption University sponsored an orientation session for international students engaging in the incoming exchange program. Students from Australia, Japan, South Korea, Finland, France, Germany, and the Netherlands are among those present. They are currently enrolled in a range of faculties and programs at Assumption University. Mr. Glen Vivian Chatelier, Director of International Affairs, led the orientation, which was placed at the Salle d’Expo on the Hua Mak Campus. At the event, important memorandums of understanding were signed between Assumption University in Thailand and universities in Finland, stressing the formation of global collaboration and exchange programs based on the reciprocity principle.
