Independence Day celebrations pass off in traditional fashion
Finland celebrated 91 years of independence on Saturday in the time-honoured manner, and without any untoward incidents.
Veterans and those who fell in the country's wars were remembered in torchlit processions and by lighting candles at cemeteries and in the windows of apartments and homes.
There was the usual military parade, too, and on this occasion it was held in Turku. Some 1,500 military personnel and 40 vehicles took part in a march past, including Finland's latest assault tanks.
Since it was Turku, the Navy was also well to the fore, and the public had a chance to go over a number of vessels, including the minelayer Pohjanmaa, the flagship of the Finnish Navy.
The day culminated in a gala reception for around 1,900 invited guests (those who had received a genuine and not a fake invitation) hosted by President Tarja Halonen at the Presidential Palace in downtown Helsinki.
The event was attended by the great and the good of the country, including all the members of the government and Parliament, senior officials, and figures from sports, culture and entertainment, many of whom have been in the news over the past year for their exploits, together with the foreign diplomatic corps stationed in Helsinki.
The party itself follows a hugely traditional pattern, but still gathers a large television audience as families tear apart the dress-sense of the guests, see who is in and who is not, who is arm-in-arm with whom, and also - since this is a small country and nearly everyone knows everyone else - try to spot the neighbours, relatives, and acquaintances who are present.
This year's television coverage was marginally less predictable than on some previous occasions, perhaps in part because of a humorous article published in the tabloid Iltalehti on Friday.
The newspaper wickedly printed a 5 x 5 bingo-card featuring the classic clichéd interviewer questions/interviewee answers referring to such things as the nature of independence, the crush on the dance-floor, or the hours spent getting one's hair done, with the result that the TV commentators and their interview subjects steered very carefully clear of all the usual platitudes.
A good time was had by all, and Finland briefly forgot the bad news of international conflicts and economic bad times on the horizon.
The first picture on the right links to a cavalcade of around 20 images from the reception.
Links:
President of the Republic of Finland
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 8.12.2008 - TODAY |
Independence Day celebrations pass off in traditional fashion
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