Flag flying days in Finland

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National Flag of Finland
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State Flag of Finland
Flag of Finland waving from a pole Flag of Finland 20181206.jpg
Flag of Finland waving from a pole

Flag flying days in Finland are days of the year when the national flag is flown nationwide, either by law or by custom. The flag of Finland is generally flown only on special occasions to celebrate or honour someone or something. On certain days of the year the state officially flies the flag, and recommends all private citizens to do so as well, these are the flag flying days as listed below. [1] Any citizen has a right to fly the flag on their own property if they deem it appropriate, [2] [3] for example in celebration of birthdays or weddings in the family. Midsummer's day is additionally celebrated as Flag Day in Finland.

Contents

By law, the Finnish flag must be flown from public buildings on the following days. [4] It is recommended that private citizens to also fly the flag on these days.

DateEnglish Name [3] Local Name [2] Remarks
28 February Kalevala Day Kalevalan päiväthe occasion is also celebrated as the Day of Finnish culture
1 May Labour Day Vappu
Second Sunday in May Mother's Day Äitienpäivä
4 JuneFlag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces puolustusvoimain lippujuhlan päiväthe occasion is also celebrated as the birthday of Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, Marshal of Finland
Saturday between 20 and 26 June Midsummer Day Juhannusthe occasion is also celebrated as the Day of the Finnish Flag. The flag is hoisted on Midsummer's eve at 6 PM and flown through the night until 9 PM the next day.
Second Sunday in November Father's Day Isänpäivä
6 December Independence Day Itsenäisyyspäivä
MovableDays when Finland holds parliamentary, presidential and local elections, elections to the European Parliament, or a referendum
MovableThe day the President of Finland is inauguratedpresidentin virkaanastumispäivä1 February or 1 March in every six years

Customary flag days

It has become customary to fly the Finnish flag on the following occasions. These dates are also listed in the Finnish State Calendar compiled by the University of Helsinki, and it is recommended that the flag is flown on these occasions. [5]

DateEnglish Name [3] Local Name [2] Remarks
3 FebruaryDay of Finnish architecture and designArkkitehtuurin ja muotoilun päiviäBirthday of Alvar Aalto [6]
5 FebruaryBirthday of the national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg Runebergin päivä
19 MarchBirthday of novelist and playwright Minna Canth and Day of Equality Minna Canthin päivä or Tasa-arvon päivä
9 AprilDay of the Finnish language suomen kielen päiväOn this day, Mikael Agricola, the founder of the literary Finnish language died, and Elias Lönnrot, a collector of folklore was born.
Saturday between 20 and 26 June Midsummer Day JuhannusAlso celebrated as the Day of the Finnish Flag. The flag is hoisted on midsummer's eve at 18:00 and flown through the night until 21:00 the next day.
27 April National Veterans' Day kansallinen veteraanipäivä
9 May Europe Day Eurooppa-päiväIt is advised by the Finnish Ministry of the Interior that the European Union Flag is flown alongside the Finnish flag on this day [7]
12 MayDay of Finnish Identity (or The Finnish Identity Day)suomalaisuuden päiväBirthday of the statesman Johan Vilhelm Snellman
Third Sunday in May Remembrance Day kaatuneitten muistopäiväA memorial day for everyone who has died in Finnish wars, combat-like duties or peacekeeping operations both during fighting and after they've ceased, including those executed or who have died as a POW.
6 JulyBirthday of the poet Eino Leino Leinon päiväAlso a celebration of poetry and summer
10 OctoberBirthday of the National writer Aleksis Kivi Aleksis Kiven päiväAlso celebrated as the day of Finnish literature
24 October United Nations Day Yhdistyneiden Kansakuntien päivä
6 November Finnish Swedish Heritage Day svenska dagen or ruotsalaisuuden päivä Gustavus Adolphus Day, the death day of King Gustavus Adolphus
8 DecemberBirthday of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius Jean Sibeliuksen päiväAlso celebrated as the day of Finnish music [8]

See also

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References

  1. "Flag Days and Holidays – Yliopiston almanakkatoimisto". almanakka.helsinki.fi. Archived from the original on 18 June 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "Liputuspäivät ja liputusajat". Sisäministeriö. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "Finnish flag days – Ministry of the Interior". Sisäministeriö. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  4. Asetus liputuksesta Suomen lipulla (383/1978) Archived 31 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine . (Decree on flying the Finnish flag), 2§ as changed with decree 187/1996. Retrieved 2 June 2008. (in Finnish)
  5. Vakiintuneet liputuspäivät Archived 26 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine (Customary flag days). Finnish ministry of interior affairs. Retrieved 2 June 2008. (in Finnish)
  6. "News | City of Helsinki". www.hel.fi. 13 July 2023. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  7. "Liputus EU-lipulla". Sisäministeriö. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  8. Ministry of the Interior – The days the flag is flown Archived 12 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved 27 May 2012.