Finland celebrates its 92nd Independence Day amid recession

Military parade in Riihimäki, party for the poor in Helsinki, and a demonstration against Finnish environment policy

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Finland celebrated its 92nd Independence Day on Sunday in traditional fashion, regardless of the recession.
      In the southern City of Riihimäki, the traditional festival parade of the Finnish Defence Forces gathered some 15,000 spectators, while around 1,800 guests attended the annual Independence Day Gala Reception hosted by President Tarja Halonen at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki on Sunday evening.
     
Earlier in the day, MPs had been conspicuous by their absence at another traditional event - the party for the homeless and poor in Helsinki arranged each year by Heikki Hursti, following the pattern set by his late father Veikko Hursti.
      Demonstrators were also out, protesting against Finland's envornment policies on the eve of the Copenhagen climate summit.
     
At the gala ball, the invited guests were celebrating, while the recession and upcoming hard times seemed to be far away.
      This time the main colours of dresses were electric blue and white, while also some red gowns could be seen occasionally.
     
The most interesting person, at least based on his outfit, was British-born Howard T. Jacobs who was recently named as Professor of the Year.
      The Professor of Molecular Biology from Tampere was wearing a Scottish kilt, a pair of combat boots, and a mohawk haircut.
     
The evening event followed the time-honoured pattern of lengthy handshake line and some very crowded dancing, while gathering a large television audience - as many as 2.3 million by some accounts - as families were watching (and commenting archly on) the dresses of the guests and trying to spot friends or famous people who were present.
     
The general view was that it was not exactly a vintage year on the ball-gown front - or what is one to think when a handful of men apparently outshone nearly all of the women?
      The planning for Independence Day #93 will have to begin in earnest right away if the women are to recapture their crown.

More on this subject:
 A 60 euro party at the Palace

Previously in HS International Edition:
  Poor queue up for food at the first Independence Day celebration organised by Heikki Hursti (7.12.2005)
  Highest Independence Day medals go to Pauliine Koskelo and Christoffer Taxell (4.12.2009)
  Independence Day celebrations pass off in traditional fashion (8.12.2008)

Helsingin Sanomat