December 6 - Independence Day of Finland

Every year on December 6, Finland celebrates the anniversary of gaining state independence. For the first time, a holiday in honor of gaining independence was celebrated in the country on December 6, 1917 - after the Finnish Parliament approved the Declaration of Independence.

Until 1917, Finland was the Grand Duchy of Finland, which was part of the Russian Empire. On December 4, 1917, the Finnish Senate signed the country's Declaration of Independence, which was approved by Parliament two days later.

Independence Day in Finland (Finnish: Itsenäisyyspäivä) is a national holiday.

The holiday begins with the traditional ceremony of raising the national flag. Moreover, in Finland, on Independence Day, you can see flags not only on government agencies, but also on private homes.

Independence Day is one of the most ceremonial and popularly loved national holidays in Finland. In the main Cathedral in Helsinki, a festive service begins at noon. During the day, there is a military parade, performances by creative and other groups.

In the evening, a traditional student torchlight procession takes place in the center of the Finnish capital, starting with the lighting of candles on the graves and at the memorials of the presidents of Finland and ending with a rally on the historic Senate Square, in front of the main Cathedral. The culmination of the holiday was an evening reception at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki.