Hyvää itsenäisyyspäivää, Suomi! - Happy independence day, Finland!

(c) partio.fi

Today Finland celebrates its independence! - Happy 97th birthday, Finland! 

Finland celebrates its independence on Dec 6th, because in 1917 this was the day when Finland was declared independent. (At the end of this post, there are links to both the official and unofficial anthem of Finland) 

How do Finns celebrate their day of independence? 

On Independence Day the Finnish flag can be seen everywhere (public buildings, as well as private houses etc.). This is because that day is one of many official Flag Days in Finland. (viralliset lipputuspäivät). Some Finns visit the church’s service, after this they visit the war memorials. Some Universities organize a torchlight procession. Students and other people from the university usually walk through the city center, but sometimes they walk from the graveyard to the city center. During their torchlight procession the people sing the Finnish national anthem "Maamme" (Our Land). 

Many Finns put a blue and white candle on their windowsill. Finnish people like to watch “Tuntematon Sotilas” (Unknown soldiers – a quite long black and white movie) and the presidential reception (at this reception there are many celebrities and other people who are welcomed by the president) on tv. 

Besides all the mentioned things, there are a soldier parade (each year in a different city), fireworks and of course a lot of partying and celebrating! Oh, I almost forgot about the famous “Finlandia” (composed by Jean Sibelius), the unofficial anthem of Finland. 

 Here are some videos:
Finlandia 
Maamme by Apocalyptica 
Maamme by Jonne Aaron
Maamme by Tarja Turunen

and here are the lyrics for Maamme, in case you're interested (including a translation by me)

Finnish Oi maamme, Suomi, synnyinmaa, soi, sana kultainen! Ei laaksoa, ei kukkulaa, ei vettä, rantaa rakkaampaa, kuin kotimaa, tää pohjoinen, maa kallis isien! Ei laaksoa, ei kkukkulaa, ei vettä, rantaa rakkaampaa, kuin kotimaa, tää pohjoinen, maa kallis isien!		English Our home, Finland, our land of birth, sounds the blissful word! No valley, no hill, no water, no coast is as loved as our home, here in the north, the land of  our dear fathers! No valley, no hill, no water, no coast is as loved as our home, here in the north, the land of our dear fathers!