Independence Day (Finland)
Finland's Independence Day ( fin. Itsenäisyyspäivä ) is Finland's national holiday , which is celebrated on December 6th every year.
The bourgeois Senate, led by Senate President Pehr Evind Svinhufvud , submitted the declaration of independence to the Finnish Parliament on December 4, 1917 , which advocated independence . Svinhufvud then declared Finland independent on December 6th. Independence Day has been celebrated since 1919 and over time has become Finland's national holiday.
Proclamation of independence
Finland was an autonomous Grand Duchy from 1808 to 1917 and part of the Russian Empire. The October Revolution in Russia, which began on November 7, enabled Finland to break away from Russia. The Finnish Senate leader Pehr Evind Svinhufvud proclaimed Finland's independence on December 6th. The declaration of independence had previously been accepted by parliament with 100 to 88 votes. Contrary to what this voting result suggests, the entire parliament stood united behind the decision to proclaim independence. The only thing the Social Democrats were dissatisfied with was the rapidity of the process. The new Soviet Russian government recognized Finland's independence on December 31, 1917. A large part of the European countries followed this example. As a consequence of gaining independence, there was a constitutional crisis that plunged the country into a civil war that lasted from January 27 to May 5, 1918. Most of the democratic states recognized Finland's independence after the first Reichstag elections in 1919.
Development of Independence Day
Independence Day was celebrated for the first time in 1919 after the State Council officially designated the day as a public holiday. It was not until 1929 that Independence Day became a national holiday, on which work is to be stopped by law and wages paid to the workers. In the twenties, Independence Day was heavily overshadowed by the aftermath of the civil war and was generally considered a civil holiday that the proletariat tended to shun. In addition, in the early years of the republic, Independence Day was overshadowed by May 16, the anniversary of the Victory Parade of the bourgeois white army that won the Finnish Civil War. Through the unifying experiences of the people in World War II, the day became a national day for all classes of society. The day also became a day of remembrance of the soldiers' heroism in the Winter War (1939–40) and Continuation War (1941–44).
Traditions
Raise the flag
On the morning of Independence Day, the Finnish flag is ceremonially hoisted on the Tähtitorninmäki hill in Helsinki, where the Helsinki University observatory is located. Independence Day is an official flag-flying day throughout Finland. There is a flag in schools and public buildings as well as in front of private houses. The flagging time is between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Church services and visits to the military cemeteries
In Helsinki Cathedral , anywhere in the Finnish church services are held in the morning. In Helsinki, for example, the president also takes part in a service. Nowadays, Independence Day services are ecumenical so that all Christians can attend the service.
After the services, wreaths are laid in the military cemeteries for those who died in the war. Relatives and acquaintances of the war victims also bring candles or flowers to the graves.
Candles
Two blue and white candles are lit at the window on Independence Day. There are many theories about how tradition began. When Finland was part of the Swedish Empire , similar candles were lit on royal holidays or when crowned heads were in Finland. When Finland was under Russian rule, the candles were of course intended for the royal family. In the times of the Finnish hunter movement , the candles were a sign that there was a safe place in the house for the soldiers. On the day of the national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg , February 5th, candles were lit against the Russification of Finland at the end of the 19th century because Runeberg supported Finland's independence. The Swedish-speaking Runeberg wrote the verses that later became the text of the Finnish national anthem. The current tradition of lighting the candles between 6 and 9 p.m. began in its current form in 1927 on the recommendation of an 'Association of Independence' (Finnish Itsenäisyyden liitto), which existed until the 1940s.
Torchlight procession
A torchlight procession is organized in many university cities in Finland on Independence Day. Both students and university staff are allowed to take part. Usually the train runs through the center of the city. During the torchlight procession, the participants visit a cemetery and lay wreaths. Sometimes the representatives of the student associations give speeches, for example on the importance of independence for the Finns. During the procession, the national anthem of Finland, the song Maamme , is sung and the university choirs perform. In Helsinki such a torchlight procession took place for the first time in 1951 on the occasion of the death of statesman and military man G. Mannerheim .
The soldiers parade
There is also a national soldiers parade every year on Independence Day. It is carried out in different cities every year. In 2010 it took place in Kuopio . Also, several other cities hold local parades every year. As part of the official parade, specimens of army equipment are displayed and the President of the Republic of Finland awards medals and pronounces military promotions on the occasion.
The reception in the presidential palace
The Independence Day reception in the Presidential Palace is the highlight of the national holiday. This grand celebration has been televised since 1967. In 2016 there were about 2.7 million viewers. It was the most watched TV show of the year. The first Independence Day reception took place in 1919 and was a small event with 150 guests. Such a celebration was not yet established until the mid-1930s, which is why in some years there were other events - such as the 70th birthday of the then President Svinhuvud - not celebrated at all. During the war years between 1940 and 1945 there was also no Independence Day reception. President Juho Paasikivi , who was in office after the war, helped revive the tradition and gave it a new meaning for the people.
Today around 1800 guests are invited, including the members of the State Council, members of government and parliament , foreign diplomats, the bishops, the Finnish members of the European Parliament , the chancellors and directors of the universities, the officers, the provincial governors, the top officials of the Jurisprudence, and the former presidents, prime ministers and parliament presidents. For the last few decades, the invitation has also been sent to important influential people in business and culture, as well as to successful athletes and artists of the year. World-famous guests in recent years have included The Rasmus singer Lauri Ylönen and racing driver Kimi Räikkönen . From the 1990s to 2006, so-called “ onlookers ” stood outside the presidential palace as protesters.
Independence Day moods
In the beginning, the celebration of Independence Day was marked by seriousness and state-directed, and after the Finnish civil war , the day was marked by political right. It was only after the Winter War that the Finns were united again. Nowadays, the majority of the people attach great importance to Independence Day and celebrate it, for example (the day before) at school or with the family. In the schools there is singing, candles are lit (see above) and the high school students who have taken their final exams in autumn are officially declared high school graduates. Home traditions vary from family to family. One of the best-known traditions that strengthen the feeling of togetherness is watching the TV broadcast from the reception in the presidential palace. Numerous patriotic films such as Crosses in Karelia are shown on television.
"Celebration for the poor"
The Finnish benefactor Veikko Hursti (1924-2005) was of the opinion that the socially disadvantaged should also celebrate Independence Day and therefore organized the “Presidential Castle Celebration for the Poor” on the Hakaniemi market square in Helsinki for decades . A warm lunch is served to visitors and, upon request, they were also given clothing from private used clothing collections. The entire event is organized on a voluntary basis. Since Hursti's death, his son Heikki Hursti has continued the humanitarian tradition.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Glanzmann, Mario: Beneficiaries of the Russian Revolution - The Independence of Finland 1917/1918 , 2005 ( PDF ( page no longer available , search in web archives ))
- ^ Lauri Aadolf Puntila: Political History of Finland 1917
- ↑ finland.se (November 21, 2011)
- ↑ http://www.juhlitaan.net/liputus/liputusaika.php ( Memento of March 3, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) (November 21, 2011)
- ↑ http://www.evl.fi/kkh/kt/uutiset/jou99/itsen99.htm ( Memento of the original from December 10, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (November 21, 2011)
- ↑ finland.se (November 21, 2011)
- ↑ ts.fi ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (November 21, 2011)
- ↑ vyy.fi ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (November 21, 2011)
- ↑ hyy.helsinki.fi/ ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) (November 21, 2011)
- ↑ mtv3.fi/helmi/minisaitit (November 21, 2011)
- ↑ President of the Republic of Finland - The Independence Day Reception (November 21, 2011)
- ↑ kansanuutiset.fi (November 21, 2011)
