Finland has a long and complex history that dates back to prehistoric times. The area was settled by various indigenous peoples, including the Finno-Ugric tribes, before being conquered by the Swedish Empire in the 13th century. For several centuries, Finland was a part of Sweden and its culture and economy were closely tied to Sweden.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, Finland experienced a period of national awakening and cultural development. However, in 1809, as a result of the Finnish War between Sweden and Russia, Finland was ceded to Russia and became an autonomous Grand Duchy within the Russian Empire.
In the aftermath of World War I and the Russian Revolution, Finland declared its independence in 1917. During World War II, Finland fought against the Soviet Union twice, first in the Winter War of 1939-1940 and then in the Continuation War of 1941-1944. As a result of these conflicts, Finland lost some territories and was forced to make territorial concessions to the Soviet Union.
After the war, Finland adopted a policy of neutrality and developed a welfare state model, which combined a capitalist economy with social security. Today, Finland is a developed, industrialized country with a high standard of living and a strong welfare state. It is also known for its high-tech industries, such as mobile technology, and for its commitment to environmental sustainability.
January 2023 Finland
01 – New Year in Finland
01 – World Peace Day
06 – Epiphany Day
13 – St. Nicholas Day in Norway and Sweden (20th and last day of the Christmas season)
February 2023 Finland
05 – Runeberg’s Birthday in Finland
06 – Sami National Day (Russia, Finland, Norway and Sweden)
14 – Valentine’s Day
28 – Kalevala Day in Finland (holiday in honour of the Finnish and Karelian national poetic epic «Kalevala»)
March 2023 Finland
19 – Birthday of Minna Canth in Finland (Finnish writer, playwright, journalist, author of short stories, novels and plays, the first famous woman writer in Finland. She was born on 19 March 1844. Gender Equality Day has been celebrated in her honour since 2007.)
April 2023 Finland
07 – Good Friday
09 – Finnish Language Day or Mikael Agricola Day in Finland (Mikael Agricola – 1510 – 9 April 1557 – Bishop, Finnish leader of the Reformation, «Man of a new age». No other book has had such a profound and significant impact on the development of Finnish culture, thought and values as the Bible. «The Bible 350. The Finnish Bible and culture»); Holy Week
27th – National Veterans Day in Finland
May 2023 Finland
01 May – Spring Festival in Finland (Vappu or Vapunaatto – Spring Sowing Festival); International Workers’ Day (May Day)
05 – No Pants Day (Celebrated on the first Friday in May)
12 – Finnish Identity Day (Finland)
14 – Mother’s Day
18 – Ascension of Jesus
19 – Day of the Finnish Military Flag
23 – Finland’s Common Flag Day (Måltidens gemenskapsdag)
June 2023 Finland
04 – Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim’s Birthday and celebration of the Finnish Defence Forces Flag Day (Finland)
09 – Aland Islands Day in Finland (the national autonomy holiday is dedicated to the beginning of the parliament in 1922)
12 – Helsinki Day (Finland)
24 – St. John’s Day in Finland (celebrated on the Saturday after 19 June)
July 2023 Finland
06 – Summer and Poetry Day or Eino Leino Day in Finland
17 – Democracy Day in Finland (the state was founded as a constitutional democracy more than 100 years ago)
27 – Unikeonpäivä in Finland (Dream Day)
29 – Olsok or St. Olaf’s Day (King Olaf II Haraldsson of Norway is remembered as Rex perpetuus Norvegiae, the Eternal King of Norway. Olsok is a national day of celebration in the Nordic countries of Norway and the Faroe Islands, and also in the provinces of Härjedalen in Sweden and Savonlinna in Finland).
September 2023 Finland
04 – Food Day in Finland (Finländska matens dag)
15 – International Day of Democracy
23rd – Autumn Equinox Day
October 2023 Finland
02 – Herring Festival in Finland
04 – Cinnamon Roll Day (Sweden. Kanelbullens dag and Finland – Korvapuustipäivä)
09 – Food Culture Day in Finland (Finlandssvenska matkulturdagen)
10 – Finnish Literature Day (Finland. Date in honour of the birthday of the writer Alexis Qiwi in 1834)
November 2023 Finland
04 – All Saints’ Day (Date for 2023. Celebrated on the Saturday between 31 October and 6 November in Finland, Sweden and El Salvador)
06 – Swedish-Finnish Heritage Day, Flag Day (Finland)
12 – Father’s Day in Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden (Date by 2023. Celebrated on the second Sunday in November)
20 – Universal Children’s Day
December 2023 Finland
06 – Finnish Independence Day (celebrates Finnish independence from Russia in 1917)
08 – Finnish Music Day (Finland)
09 – Anna Day (Sweden, Finland and Norway. Marks the day when the process of preparing the lutefisk to be eaten on Christmas Eve begins, as well as a Swedish name day, celebrating all people named Anna).
13 – St Lucia’s Day (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and parts of Italy. Dedicated to St Lucia’s independence from the UK in 1979)
25 – Christmas Day
26 – Boxing Day (Belgium, Fiji, Bahamas, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Samoa…)
31 – New Year’s Eve
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