Official observations of Finland’s 106th Independence Day began at 9am Wednesday with a flag-raising ceremony on Tähtitorni Hill in Helsinki's Ullanlinna district.
Hoisting the Finnish flag in bright, cold weather were members of a YMCA scout troop from Rastila, eastern Helsinki, accompanied with singing by the Viipurin Lauluveikot. The male choir was founded in 1897 in Vyborg, which is now part of Russia.
Delivering a speech at this year’s flag ceremony was Speaker of Parliament Jussi Halla-aho (Finns).
Independence Day commemorates December 6, 1917, when the Finnish Parliament approved a declaration of independence from Russia that had been issued by the Senate. Finland had been a Grand Duchy under the Russian Empire since 1809. The Senate was led by Pehr Evind Svinhufvud, who became the republic’s third president in the 1930s.
At 10.30, President Sauli Niinistö laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Helsinki's Hietaniemi Cemetery, followed by Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen (NCP) and the Defence Forces Commander, Gen. Timo Kivinen.
The annual Independence Day parade began in Oulu at noon, organised by the Finnish Army's Kainuu Brigade, which is based in Kajaani.
The parade view from the Raatti Stadium and the march past the Merikoski Bridges at 1pm were broadcast live on Yle channels, while a compilation of the highlights shown later.
Disruption at ecumenical service
Niinistö also took part in a traditional ecumenical service at Helsinki's Lutheran Cathedral at noon. The Lutheran Bishop of Oulu, Jukka Keskitalo, delivered the sermon, and a prayer was read in the indigenous North Sámi language.
Pastor Kari Kanala said in a social media post that the service was briefly disrupted by some attendees seated in an upper loft.
"Palestinian flags, a peace song, etc. I don't know what to think. In any case, we are here praying for peace anyway," he posted on X, adding that the disturbance only lasted for about a minute.
Helsinki Police Chief Commissioner Patrik Karlsson confirmed the incident to Yle. He said that 10 people participated in the protest, dropping two banners expressing support for Palestine from the loft. Police removed two people from the event, telling them they could continue their demonstration outdoors.
Police said they have received notifications of four other demonstrations later in the day, including two that were scheduled to begin at 4pm. A traditional university students' torchlight procession was to begin an hour later.
Sibelius and a TV gala
Beginning at 3pm, the Radio Symphony Orchestra offered an Independence Day concert from the Helsinki Music Centre. Featuring works by Finnish composers Magnus Lindberg, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Jean Sibelius, was broadcast live on Yle Teema and Areena, and at 7pm on Yle Radio 1.
The day culminates in the annual ball at the Presidential Palace, which starts at 7pm.
Niinistö and his spouse, Jenni Haukio, host the reception for the 10th and final time. They have hosted it annually since he took office in 2012 except in 2020-21, when it was cancelled due to the pandemic, replaced by modest virtual events. In 2013, the event was held in Tampere as the Presidential Palace was under renovation.
Voting for Niinistö’s successor begins just over a month from now.
The TV and online broadcast of the gala is typically Finland's most-watched media event of the year, sometimes attracting more than 2.5 million viewers.
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