by shubla » Mon Dec 04, 2017 2:46 pm music
100 years ago, in 6th of December, Republic of Finland was declared as an independant nation,
previously been under the rule of Russia and Sweden.
It is a day for celebration, as Finland has been independant for a whole 100 years without any interruption.
It is also a day to remember that independence did not come for free, but with great sacrifices of those who
have defended Finland from invaders, those who did the unthinkable and sacrificed their life for the best of
our country during the Winter War and Continuation war. Resulting in Finland being the only country next to
USSR not being occupied during WW2.
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If required, Finland still has the will and ability to defend itself if needed. Which is partly reminded by a small parade, which is held annually during the independence day.
As the traditions go. Independence day celebrations begin by raising the flag to the pole at 9 o'clock in the morning.
People usually go and visit graves of the veterans, bring candles and wreaths.
There are also guards held throughout the day in places where veterans have been buried to honor them.
There is also a tradition to lit two blue-white candles near the window.
Originally people started to burn them hundreds of years ago, as a protest against Russian rule.
But these days they are mainly associated with the independence day.
Often people watch a certain movie 'Tuntematon Sotilas' that is broadcasted on national TV channel every year during the independence day.It was produced in 1955 based on a popular book by the same name, that tells the story of machine-gun squad during the continuation war against Soviet Union.
The first movie without subtitles
Title roughly translates to "The Unkown Soldier". It also is the most watched movie in Finland of all time.
There are 3 versions of it, most recent one published in this year
But the first one remains the most popular one. It also had lots of actors that took part/lived during the war.
For an unknown reason, for the most people the last event of the day is watching a live broadcast from television, where people are shaking hands.
The President of Finland helds "Itsenäisyyspäivän vastaanotto" which translates to reception of the Independence day.
Few thousand guests are invited, mostly veterans, politically important persons like diplomats or congressmen and some other famous or relevant people such as (successful) athletes.
It begins by reception of all guests. President and his wife shakes hands with every single one of them. Veterans come first, then come the rest in some certain complicated order.
The whole thing is broadcasted on national television, with narrator presenting each guest when he comes in and shakes hands, commenting a bit on how she/he has dressed.
When all of the guests have been shaken hands with, they discuss, drink some coffee and such, then hold a ball, which of course begins by the President dancing with his/her spouse.
