Happy Finnish Independence Day!
Finland's Independence Day is a national public holiday that is held on 6th of December to celebrate Finland's declaration of independence from Russia.
The movement for Finland's Independence started after the revolutions in Russia, caused by the disturbances from the defeats of the First World War. This gave an opportunity for Finland to try to withdraw from Russia. There were two bitter wars that lasted from 1939-40 (winter war) and from 1941-44 (continuation war). Finland was able to win the wars even though Russia had three times as many soldiers as the Finns, 30 times as many aircraft, and a hundred times as many tanks. One interesting fact is that the Finnish army was very smart during the Winter war by having white outerwear for the soldiers. The Russians couldn't see the Finns in the snow! The Finns were also dressed in layers and they were able to withstand the cold much better than the Russians. The Finnish Independence Day was first celebrated in 1919.
To read more about the war between Russia and Finland, you should get a book called Frozen Hell. It is written by an American author William Trotter.
It is a tradition in Finland to light two candles by a window of your home in the evening of the Independence Day. A popular legend has it that two candles were used as a sign to inform young 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.
Another tradition is to watch a movie called The Unknown Soldier that is broadcast every Independence Day on a Finnish national television channel. It tells a story of young Finnish rookie soldiers who are forced to the war with Russia in 1941. The movie is based on a novel The Unknown Soldier written by Väinö Linna. The movie adaptation was first released in 1955.
Besides watching The Unknown Soldier many Finns also watch the Presidential Independence Day reception that is held for approximately 2000 invited guests at the Presidential Palace. This event, known as Linnan juhlat ("the Castle Ball"), is broadcast on national television as well. It is always fun to see who got invited and what the guests are wearing. A lot of times we spend the night of Independence Day with friends and watch the Castle Ball as well as enjoy something good to eat and drink.
My most fun Independence Day memory is from last year. Kuopio got to host the national Independence Day military parade. They had all the soldiers marching through the city along with tanks and other army vehicles. Then they had helicopters and couple Hornet F-16 fighter jets fly over the city. I nearly pissed my pants because I just love the sound of hornets (*giggle*). Oh and I was tickled pink with excitement because they even had one of the hornets at the market place!! I think I will never have a chance to get another picture of me with a hornet in front of the Kuopio city hall.
This Independence Day I will take it easy and enjoy my day off from work. I will also bake gingerbread cookies. I will give some of them to my dad as a xmas present. We agreed that we won't buy any xmas presents to each other but he didn't say anything about handmade presents. Plus I know he loves my gingerbread cookies. Then I was thinking about watching a good movie and knitting. I don't think I will watch the Unknown Soldier because I have seen it many times but I will definitely watch the Castle Ball.
Finland's Independence Day is a national public holiday that is held on 6th of December to celebrate Finland's declaration of independence from Russia.
The movement for Finland's Independence started after the revolutions in Russia, caused by the disturbances from the defeats of the First World War. This gave an opportunity for Finland to try to withdraw from Russia. There were two bitter wars that lasted from 1939-40 (winter war) and from 1941-44 (continuation war). Finland was able to win the wars even though Russia had three times as many soldiers as the Finns, 30 times as many aircraft, and a hundred times as many tanks. One interesting fact is that the Finnish army was very smart during the Winter war by having white outerwear for the soldiers. The Russians couldn't see the Finns in the snow! The Finns were also dressed in layers and they were able to withstand the cold much better than the Russians. The Finnish Independence Day was first celebrated in 1919.
To read more about the war between Russia and Finland, you should get a book called Frozen Hell. It is written by an American author William Trotter.
It is a tradition in Finland to light two candles by a window of your home in the evening of the Independence Day. A popular legend has it that two candles were used as a sign to inform young 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.
Another tradition is to watch a movie called The Unknown Soldier that is broadcast every Independence Day on a Finnish national television channel. It tells a story of young Finnish rookie soldiers who are forced to the war with Russia in 1941. The movie is based on a novel The Unknown Soldier written by Väinö Linna. The movie adaptation was first released in 1955.
Besides watching The Unknown Soldier many Finns also watch the Presidential Independence Day reception that is held for approximately 2000 invited guests at the Presidential Palace. This event, known as Linnan juhlat ("the Castle Ball"), is broadcast on national television as well. It is always fun to see who got invited and what the guests are wearing. A lot of times we spend the night of Independence Day with friends and watch the Castle Ball as well as enjoy something good to eat and drink.
My most fun Independence Day memory is from last year. Kuopio got to host the national Independence Day military parade. They had all the soldiers marching through the city along with tanks and other army vehicles. Then they had helicopters and couple Hornet F-16 fighter jets fly over the city. I nearly pissed my pants because I just love the sound of hornets (*giggle*). Oh and I was tickled pink with excitement because they even had one of the hornets at the market place!! I think I will never have a chance to get another picture of me with a hornet in front of the Kuopio city hall.
This Independence Day I will take it easy and enjoy my day off from work. I will also bake gingerbread cookies. I will give some of them to my dad as a xmas present. We agreed that we won't buy any xmas presents to each other but he didn't say anything about handmade presents. Plus I know he loves my gingerbread cookies. Then I was thinking about watching a good movie and knitting. I don't think I will watch the Unknown Soldier because I have seen it many times but I will definitely watch the Castle Ball.
Finland is the greatest nation in the galaxy! (hughs from Spain)
ReplyDeleteThanks!! It surely is. :)
ReplyDeleteKisses and Hugs!!