Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces

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Flag Day of
the Finnish Defence Forces
The Nyland Brigade (Finnish: Uudenmaan prikaati) at the 2014 Festival Parade of the Finnish Defence Forces on Valtakatu street in Lappeenranta, Finland
Official namepuolustusvoimain lippujuhlan päivä (Finnish)
försvarets fanfest (Swedish)
Observed byFinland
SignificanceThe day celebrating the Finnish Defence Forces, which is designated as the birthday of Marshal C. G. E. Mannerheim since 1942.
CelebrationsMilitary parade
DateJune 4
Next time4 June 2027 (2027-06-04)
FrequencyAnnual

The Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces (Finnish: puolustusvoimain lippujuhlan päivä; Swedish: försvarets fanfest) is celebrated annually on June 4th in Finland, also known as the birthday of Marshal C. G. E. Mannerheim (1867–1951),[1][2] and is the official Finnish flag-flying day. On the flag day, medals are awarded and distinguished soldiers and reservists are promoted.[3]

History

Marshal Mannerheim and President Risto Ryti inspect troops in Enso (today Svetogorsk) on the Marshal's birthday in 1944.

During 1919–1939 the Flag Day of the Military (Finnish: Sotaväen lippujuhlan päivä) was celebrated on May 16th, as the Victory Day of the Troops of the Republic of Finland, i. e. the Whites over the Reds in the Civil War in 1918.[4][5] President K. J. Ståhlberg confirmed the Day of the War People's flag fest as an official holiday in 1921.[4] At first, the flag ceremony was mainly a celebration for the bourgeoisie, but in 1927 the parade was hosted by the Social Democratic Prime Minister Väinö Tanner, who had been acting as President of the Republic during President L. K. Relander's sick leave.[6]

In 1942, during Mannerheim's 75th birthday, the Finnish government declared that from then on June 4th would officially celebrated as the Birthday of Marshal of Finland (Finnish: Suomen marsalkan syntymäpäivä).[3][7][8] When the 85th anniversary of Mannerheim's birth had passed and Finland was about to celebrate its 35th anniversary in 1952, the flag-flying ceremony of the Defence Forces was celebrated with a parade in Helsinki's Senate Square. Forty contingents totaling over two thousand people from the Defence Forces and the Border Guard participated in the parade. The parade was received by President J. K. Paasikivi together with Aarne Sihvo, the Chief of Defence.[9]

Culture

Food

Traditional and valuable delicacies for the holiday include, in particular, Mannerheim's favorite pikeperch delicacy called "Kyyveijn kuhho",[10][11] while in the garrisons, lunch may follow the traditional camp format or be served more casually during the holiday season, such as berry or fruit kissel and soldiers' home doughnuts.[10]

In Väinö Linna's 1954 war novel The Unknown Soldier and its all film adaptations from 1955 to 2017, there is a scene where Finnish soldiers celebrate Mannerheim's 75th birthday by drinking cut cognac ("leikattu konjakki") and home-brewed kilju.[12][13]

See also

References

  1. "Sisäasiainministeriö – Liputuspäivät". Intermin.fi. 29 April 2011. Archived from the original on 26 January 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  2. Oja, Heikki (2007). Aikakirja 2007 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Helsingin yliopiston almanakkatoimisto. pp. 190–191. ISBN 978-952-10-3221-9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 March 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  3. Saine, Kristian (2024-06-04). "Tiedätkö, miksi tänään liputetaan?". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 2026-05-06.
  4. "Lippujuhlan päivää vietetään huomenna: Suomen lippu salkoon". Valkeakosken Sanomat (in Finnish). 3 June 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  5. Laaksokari, Arttu (29 May 2017). "Helsingin paraati on historian näyttävin". Ruotuväki (in Finnish). Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  6. Halonen, Jukka (9 December 2018). "Sinä päivänä pääministeri otti kolme askelta, jotka olivat pieniä hänelle, mutta suuria Suomen eheytymiselle - piilotti ohjeet silinterihattuunsa". Iltalehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  7. "Puolustusvoimain lippujuhlan päivä 4.6". Yle (in Finnish). 2 May 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  8. "Asetus (458/1942) Suomen lipun virallisesta käyttämisestä sekä julkisesta liputuksesta muunlaisilla lipuilla annetun asetuksen muuttamisesta, annettu 2. kesäkuuta 1942". Suomen asetuskokoelma vuodelta 1942 (in Finnish). Valtioneuvoston kirjapaino. 1942. p. 1037.
  9. "Veli Junttilan Suomi 1952 - kolumni 3.6.2002: Jälleen paraatimarssia". Turun Sanomat (in Finnish). 3 June 2002. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  10. Massinen, Tuomas (4 June 2020). ""Lippujuhlan aterialle sopisi Mannerheim-teema" – Keittiömestari Jaakko Sauvola, 40, ehdottaa juhlapöydän herkuiksi tartaria, kuhaa ja punssikakkua". Keskisuomalainen (in Finnish). Retrieved 3 June 2026.
  11. Halonen, Sinimaria (22 February 2024). "Mannerheimin suurinta herkkua oli "Kyyveijn kuhho" – tänä päivänä Marskin kuha on ravintolamaailman klassikko". Kotiliesi (in Finnish). Retrieved 3 June 2026.
  12. ""Koskela Suomesta – syö rautaa ja…" – katso 8 legendaarisinta kohtausta Tuntemattomasta sotilaasta". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). 5 December 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  13. Kivimäki, Petri (4 June 2018). "Sotaveteraaneilla tunteikas paluu jatkosodan juhlahetkeen – saivat annoksen kuuluisaa leikattua konjakkia". Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 6 May 2026.