On the birthday of the entire Finland, it is time for all Finns to celebrate. Celebration of the highlight of the year begins on the day before Finland’s 100th year of independence, Tuesday 5 December, and continues until Thursday morning when special lightings will be switched off and we will gaze forward towards the next hundred years of Finland.

The joyful celebration of Independence Day begins already on Tuesday morning in libraries, lasting long until the night. The afternoon is spent together at the workplace, in homes and other communities of daily life by having coffee in the traditional Finnish way at 2 p.m.

Flagging and lighting Finland blue and white

The official flagging will begin on 5 December at 6 p.m., continuing until 10 p.m. in the evening of the Independence Day 6 December if the flag has been lit during dark hours. An unlit flag can be hoisted on 6 December from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The City of Turku will be flagging on the City bridges from 5 December to 6 December.

Lighting the entire Finland blue and white begins on 5 December at 6 p.m. and the special lighting will end on 7 December, in the morning. The City of Turku will be lighting the Library Bridge, the Parish Union will be lighting the Martti church tower and the side of the Ylösnousemuskappeli Chapel (Resurrection chapel) blue and white from 5 December to 7 December. At homes, everyone can light their buildings, yards, windows and other objects they wish.

The light and sound artwork Luminous will be presented in the inner yard and park of the Turku Castle from 5 December to 6 December from 4 p.m. to midnight.

The pre-party of Independence Day in libraries will take place at the Turku Main Library on 5 December from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The programme, with happenings every hour, includes presentations of culture from different centuries.

Restaurants and bars will celebrate the day before Independence Day with special menus and schedules in an easy-going and joyful atmosphere. A challenge for karaoke restaurants in Finland invites all restaurants to arrange the singing of songs ”Olen suomalainen”, ”Sininen ja valkoinen” and ”Maamme”.on 5 December at 9 p.m.

Joy and dignity on 6 December

Particular consideration on Independence Day will be given to soldiers that passed away during wars in Finland, and war veterans. Wreaths will be laid at the Turku cemetery from 11 a.m. onwards.

An honorary guard at soldier’s graves will take place at Turku cemetery in connection with the ceremony starting at 1 p.m. There were 901soldiers who passed away in Finnish wars and were buried at the Turku cemetery.

Honorary guards in Varsinais-Suomi will also take place at e.g. the cemeteries of Salo-Uskela, Kalanti and Pertteli. The Turku and Kaarina Parish Union and scouts will be taking a wreath and a lantern to each of the 1161 soldier’s graves in Turku and Kaarina cemeteries.

Service in churches will begin at 10 a.m. with the Finlandia hymn. In Turku and Kaarina, the hymn will be performed by choirs or played by organ in the church at Kuusisto, Saint Catherine's Church, Maaria, Paattinen, Henrikki and Piikkiö and in Aurelia. At the Turku Cathedral, the event Sata laulajaa sadassa kirkossa (‘A hundred singers in a hundred churches’) will take place with five choirs. An Independence Day candle will be given to everyone joining the Independence Day service at Turku and Kaarina.  At homes, candles will be lit on windows at 6 p.m. and at the same time, celebratory music will be played in Finnish churches.

Happenings outside

There is no need to stay home in front of the TV on Independence Day. Turku will be full of happenings that can be enjoyed outside or on the move. The celebratory concerts of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra will take place at the Concert Hall at noon and at 3 p.m. and the latter one will be streamed on a large screen at the Old Great Square. After the concert, the bird character Pikkuli will be performing for kids on the Old Great Square stage in a song and play show. The show begins at 4:30 p.m. and takes approximately one hour.

The light installation Luminous will be presented from 5 December to 6 December from 4 p.m. until midnight in the inner yard of the Turku Castle and the park. On Independence Day, the event is accompanied with the multidisciplinary work Suomen luonto (Finnish nature) that, in addition to light and sound, includes fire elements and acrobatics for five hours between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. The event is free of charge.

You can also participate in the urban orienteering Street-O organised by scouts leaving from Itsenäisyydenaukio square (Independence Square) between 11 a.m. and noon. The ball of Gramofoni Oy takes place at Logomo and the ball of Turun Kansantanssin ystävät takes place at Voluntary fire brigade house (VPK).

Go out and about!

Public events will not cause problems in terms of parking. Those participating in the honorary guard and those who come to watch it will have free parking at the western car park of Skanssi. On 5 December, late night Friday buses and night buses will operate on Föli routes, and on Independence Day, Saturday schedules will apply all day including the night buses. Jump on the bus and join Finland’s historic celebration!