Independence Day (Finland)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Finland's
Independence Day (
Finnish:
itsenäisyyspäivä,
Swedish:
självständighetsdag) is a national public holiday held on 6 December to celebrate
Finland's declaration of independence from the
Russian Republic.
History
The movement for Finland's independence started after the
revolutions in Russia, caused by disturbances inside Russia from hardships connected to the
First World War.
This gave Finland an opportunity to withdraw from Russian rule. After
several disagreements between the non-socialists and the
social-democrats over who should have the power in Finland, on 4
December 1917, the
Senate of Finland, led by
Pehr Evind Svinhufvud, finally made a Declaration of Independence which was adopted by the Finnish parliament two days later.
Independence Day was first celebrated in 1917. However, during the
first years of independence, 6 December in some parts of Finland was
only a minor holiday compared to 16 May, the
Whites' day of celebration for prevailing in the
Finnish Civil War.
Observance
During the early decades of independence, Independence Day was a very
solemn occasion marked by patriotic speeches and special church
services. From the 1970s onwards, however, Independence Day celebrations
have taken livelier forms, with shops decorating their windows in the
blue and white of the
Finnish flag,
and bakeries producing cakes with blue and white icing. Today, rock
stars and entertainers have been accepted as worthy interpreters of
Finnish patriotism.
It is traditional for Finnish families to light two candles in each
window of their home in the evening. This custom dates to the 1920s; but
even earlier, candles had been placed in Finnish windows on poet
Johan Ludvig Runeberg's
birthday as a silent protest against Russian oppression. A popular
legend has it that two candles were used as a sign to inform young
Finnish men on their way to
Sweden and
Germany to become
jägers that the house was ready to offer shelter and keep them hidden from the Russians.
[1]
State festivities
Official Independence Day festivities usually commence with the
raising of the Finnish flag on Tähtitorninmäki ("Observatory Hill") in
Helsinki. A religious service is held at
Helsinki Cathedral, and official visits are made to the
war memorials of
World War II.
YLE, Finland's national public service broadcaster, broadcasts the movie adaptation of
The Unknown Soldier, based on
Väinö Linna's
iconic novel. In most years, the original
1955 film has been shown (dozens of times) and every year since 2000; but the
1985 version has also been shown once—in 1997.
In the evening, the
Presidential Independence Day reception is held for approximately 2000 invited guests at the
Presidential Palace. This event, known informally also as
Linnanjuhlat ("the Castle
Ball"),
is broadcast on national television and has been a perennial favorite
of the viewing public. The first presidential ball was organized in
1919, and the event has been held most years since.
[2]
The reception invariably attracts the attention of demonstrators in
support of various causes, and various demonstrations and shadow parties
are held to coincide with the official event. The late philanthropist
Veikko Hursti
organized the most popular of these demonstration, providing free food
to the poor and underprivileged. Since Hursti's death in 2005, the
tradition has been carried on by his son,
Heikki Hursti.
The most popular television segment of the Independence Day reception
is the entrance of the guests. These include persons who receive
invitations every year, including the knights of the
Mannerheim Cross (traditionally the first ones to enter), members of the government and the
Parliament of Finland,
archbishops, judges, high military and police officers, and various
diplomats and dignitaries. The second group includes guests of the
President's own choosing: typically entertainers; activists;
sportspersons; and in general, people who have been in the spotlight
over the past year. The last guests to enter are always the surviving
former Finnish presidents.
90th Anniversary commemorative coin
The 90th Anniversary of Finland's Declaration of Independence was
selected as the main motif for a high-value commemorative coin, the €5
90th Anniversary of Finland's Declaration of Independence commemorative coin, minted in 2007. The reverse shows
petroglyphic
aesthetics, while the obverse has a nine-oar boat with rowers,
symbolizing collaboration as a true Finnish trait. Signs of music and
Finnish
kantele strings can be discerned in the coin's design.
Finland's Independence Day (Finnish: itsenäisyyspäivä, Swedish: självständighetsdag) is a national public holiday held on 6 December to celebrate Finland's declaration of independence from the Russian Republic.
History
The movement for Finland's independence started after the revolutions in Russia, caused by disturbances inside Russia from hardships connected to the First World War.
This gave Finland an opportunity to withdraw from Russian rule. After
several disagreements between the non-socialists and the
social-democrats over who should have the power in Finland, on 4
December 1917, the Senate of Finland, led by Pehr Evind Svinhufvud, finally made a Declaration of Independence which was adopted by the Finnish parliament two days later.
Independence Day was first celebrated in 1917. However, during the
first years of independence, 6 December in some parts of Finland was
only a minor holiday compared to 16 May, the Whites' day of celebration for prevailing in the Finnish Civil War.
Observance
During the early decades of independence, Independence Day was a very
solemn occasion marked by patriotic speeches and special church
services. From the 1970s onwards, however, Independence Day celebrations
have taken livelier forms, with shops decorating their windows in the
blue and white of the Finnish flag,
and bakeries producing cakes with blue and white icing. Today, rock
stars and entertainers have been accepted as worthy interpreters of
Finnish patriotism.
It is traditional for Finnish families to light two candles in each
window of their home in the evening. This custom dates to the 1920s; but
even earlier, candles had been placed in Finnish windows on poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg's
birthday as a silent protest against Russian oppression. A popular
legend has it that two candles were used as a sign to inform young
Finnish men on their way to Sweden and Germany to become jägers that the house was ready to offer shelter and keep them hidden from the Russians.[1]
State festivities
Official Independence Day festivities usually commence with the
raising of the Finnish flag on Tähtitorninmäki ("Observatory Hill") in Helsinki. A religious service is held at Helsinki Cathedral, and official visits are made to the war memorials of World War II.
YLE, Finland's national public service broadcaster, broadcasts the movie adaptation of The Unknown Soldier, based on Väinö Linna's iconic novel. In most years, the original 1955 film has been shown (dozens of times) and every year since 2000; but the 1985 version has also been shown once—in 1997.
In the evening, the Presidential Independence Day reception is held for approximately 2000 invited guests at the Presidential Palace. This event, known informally also as Linnanjuhlat ("the Castle Ball"),
is broadcast on national television and has been a perennial favorite
of the viewing public. The first presidential ball was organized in
1919, and the event has been held most years since.[2]
The reception invariably attracts the attention of demonstrators in
support of various causes, and various demonstrations and shadow parties
are held to coincide with the official event. The late philanthropist Veikko Hursti
organized the most popular of these demonstration, providing free food
to the poor and underprivileged. Since Hursti's death in 2005, the
tradition has been carried on by his son, Heikki Hursti.
The most popular television segment of the Independence Day reception
is the entrance of the guests. These include persons who receive
invitations every year, including the knights of the Mannerheim Cross (traditionally the first ones to enter), members of the government and the Parliament of Finland,
archbishops, judges, high military and police officers, and various
diplomats and dignitaries. The second group includes guests of the
President's own choosing: typically entertainers; activists;
sportspersons; and in general, people who have been in the spotlight
over the past year. The last guests to enter are always the surviving
former Finnish presidents.
90th Anniversary commemorative coin
The 90th Anniversary of Finland's Declaration of Independence was
selected as the main motif for a high-value commemorative coin, the €5 90th Anniversary of Finland's Declaration of Independence commemorative coin, minted in 2007. The reverse shows petroglyphic
aesthetics, while the obverse has a nine-oar boat with rowers,
symbolizing collaboration as a true Finnish trait. Signs of music and
Finnish kantele strings can be discerned in the coin's design.
Jarno Pikkarainen
