Flag flying days in Finland

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.

National Flag of Finland
State Flag of Finland
Flag of Finland waving from a pole

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 Walpurgis night 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, next time in 2024

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 and Gustavus Adolphus Day svenska dagen or ruotsalaisuuden päivä
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

References
  1. "Flag Days and Holidays – Yliopiston almanakkatoimisto". almanakka.helsinki.fi. Archived from the original on 18 June 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  2. "Liputuspäivät ja liputusajat". Sisäministeriö. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  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.
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