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 flag flying days are listed below. Any citizen has a right to fly the flag on their own property if they deem it appropriate, for example, in celebration of birthdays or weddings in the family. Midsummer's Day is additionally celebrated as Flag Day in Finland.
Legal enforcement
By law, the Finnish flag must be flown from public buildings on the following days.Asetus liputuksesta Suomen lipulla (383/1978) . (Decree on flying the Finnish flag), 2§ as changed with decree 187/1996. Retrieved 2 June 2008. It is recommended that private citizens to also fly the flag on these days.
Date English name Finnish name Swedish name Remarks 28 February Kalevala Day, Day of Finnish culture or or On this day in 1835, Elias Lönnrot signed the preface of the first edition of Kalevala. 1 May Labour Day Second Sunday in May Mother's Day 4 June Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces Birthday of Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, Marshal of Finland Saturday between 20 and 26 June Midsummer Day 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 6 December Independence Day Finnish Declaration of Independence was adopted on 6 December 1917. 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 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.Vakiintuneet liputuspäivät (Customary flag days). Finnish ministry of interior affairs. Retrieved 2 June 2008.
Date English name Finnish name Swedish name Remarks 5 February Runeberg Day Birthday of the national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg 19 March Minna Canth Day, Day of Equality or or Birthday of novelist and playwright Minna Canth 9 April Mikael Agricola Day, Day of the Finnish language or On this day, Mikael Agricola, the founder of the literary Finnish language died, and Elias Lönnrot, a collector of folklore was born. 27 April National Veterans' Day World War II in Finland ended on 27 April 1945. 9 May Europe Day It is advised by the Finnish Ministry of the Interior that the European Union flag is flown alongside the Finnish flag on this day. 12 May Day of Finnish Identity or or Birthday of the statesman Johan Vilhelm Snellman Third Sunday in May Remembrance Day 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 Eino Leino Day, Day of Summer and Poetry or or Birthday of the poet Eino Leino The last Saturday in August Finland's Nature Day 1 October Miina Sillanpää Day, Day of Civic Participation or or The date commemorates the declaration of universal suffrage in Finland on 1 October 1906. 10 October Aleksis Kivi Day, Finnish Literature Day or or Birthday of the national writer Aleksis Kivi 24 October United Nations Day United Nations began its operations on 24 October 1945. 6 November Finland Swedish Heritage Day Coincides with Gustavus Adolphus Day in Sweden. 20 November Day of Children's Rights Declaration of the Rights of the Child was adopted by the UN on 20 November 1959. 8 December Jean Sibelius Day, Finnish Music Day or or Birthday of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.
Other recommended flag days in 2025
Date English name Finnish name Swedish name Remarks 3 February Alvar and Aino Aalto Day, Day of Finnish Architecture and Design Birthday of the architect Alvar Aalto 6 February Sámi National Day The first international Sámi congress began on 6 February 1917. 8 April International Romani Day In honour of the first major international Romani meeting on 7–12 April 1971 9 August Tove Jansson Day, Day of Finnish Art Birthday of the artist Tove Jansson
See also
Public holidays in Finland National anthem of Finland Finnish national symbols Household pennant of Finland Flag Day (a list of Flag Day holidays in various countries) Flag flying days in Norway Flag flying days in Sweden
References