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.
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Legal enforcement
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.
| Date | English Name[3] | Local Name[2] | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 February | Kalevala Day | Kalevalan päivä | the occasion is also celebrated as the Day of Finnish culture |
| 1 May | Labour Day | Vappu | |
| Second Sunday in May | Mother's Day | Äitienpäivä | |
| 4 June | Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces | puolustusvoimain lippujuhlan päivä | the occasion is also celebrated as the birthday of Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, Marshal of Finland |
| Saturday between 20 and 26 June | Midsummer Day | Juhannus | the 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 | |
| Movable | Days when Finland holds parliamentary, presidential and local elections, elections to the European Parliament, or a referendum | ||
| Movable | The day the President of Finland is inaugurated | presidentin virkaanastumispäivä | 1 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]
| Date | English Name[3] | Local Name[2] | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 February | Day of Finnish architecture and design | Arkkitehtuurin ja muotoilun päiviä | Birthday of Alvar Aalto[6] |
| 5 February | Birthday of the national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg | Runebergin päivä | |
| 19 March | Birthday of novelist and playwright Minna Canth and Day of Equality | Minna Canthin päivä or Tasa-arvon päivä | |
| 9 April | Day of the Finnish language | suomen kielen päivä | On 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 | Juhannus | the 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. |
| 27 April | National Veterans' Day | kansallinen veteraanipäivä | |
| 9 May | Europe Day | Eurooppa-päivä | It 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 May | Day of Finnish Identity (or The Finnish Identity Day) | suomalaisuuden päivä | Birthday of the statesman Johan Vilhelm Snellman |
| Third Sunday in May | Remembrance Day | kaatuneitten muistopäivä | A 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 July | Birthday of the poet Eino Leino | Leinon päivä | the occasion is also a celebration of poetry and summer |
| 10 October | Birthday of the National writer Aleksis Kivi | Aleksis Kiven päivä | the occasion is also 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 | on the Gustavus Adolphus Day, the death day of King Gustavus Adolphus |
| 8 December | Birthday of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius | Jean Sibeliuksen päivä | the occasion is also celebrated as the Day of Finnish music[8] |
See also
- Holidays in Finland
- National anthem of Finland
- Finnish national symbols
- Household pennant of Finland
- Flag Day (a list of Flag Days in various countries)
- Flag flying days in Norway
- Flag flying days in Sweden