6th Dec: Independence Day

Yesterday was national public holiday in Finland because of their Independence Day:
The Independence Day is held on 6th December to celebrate Finland's declaration of independence from the Russian empire back in 1917. Yes, Finland is officially only 93 years old... ;-)

Finns celebrate their Independence Day with window decorations in stores, public flag displays and other decorative items in the blue and white of the Finnish flag.

Some still hold up the Finnish Independence Day tradition of putting 2 candles in the window at night - in earlier times, this invited friendly troops into the home for food and shelter.

There is also a student torch parade in Helsinki, organized by the university student unions


The parades ends at the senate square. The speeches are held on stairs of cathedral and the flags and choir step up there as well when the audience listens from the square. (as you can see in the video, with a singing Finn choir)

Yesterday you needed a lot of warm drinks...

...cause it was a snowing a lot...