National Commemorative Years

The national commemorative years organised by the Prime Minister’s Office are celebrated both in Finland and internationally. Commemorative years are held especially to mark milestone anniversaries of Finland’s independence, but other significant historical events are also commemorated through themed years.

Milestones of independence celebrated more broadly

It has become customary to celebrate major anniversaries of Finland’s independence with greater ceremony. All Finns and friends of Finland invited to take part. Special committees are set up to plan the festivities.

The 40th anniversary of Finland’s independence was celebrated in 1957, but the 50th anniversary celebrations in 1967 were much more elaborate. That year saw the founding of the Finnish Independence Jubilee Fund, now known as the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra. Subsequent major anniversaries were celebrated when Finland turned 60 and 70.

The 75th anniversary in 1992 was commemorated with large-scale events that engaged many different segments of society. One of the highlights was the architectural competition for the future Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma. The 80th anniversary celebrations culminated at the nearly completed Kiasma building in 1997.

The 80th and 90th anniversaries were celebrated with themed programmes aimed at reaching various groups of citizens, though on a smaller scale than the quarter-century milestones. Efforts were focused on preparing for the centenary. In both years, the anniversary culminated in a joyful moment on the eve of Independence Day – a shared celebration in the midst of everyday life.

The centenary of Finland’s independence was celebrated in 2017. It was the most extensive anniversary programme to date, involving 800,000 people and 5,000 projects. An estimated 170,000 events took place in Finland and around the world. The theme of the year was ‘Together’.

Themed years mark historical events

The J.V. Snellman 200 Years project in 2006 highlighted the role of Snellman and his contemporaries as nation-builders. The year also encouraged Finns to reflect on their own identity.
Finland’s autonomous era began in 1809 – one of the key milestones in our country’s history. In 2006, the Prime Minister’s Office launched the Commemorative Year 1809 project under the theme ‘Building a Nation’. Numerous events were held in 2008–2009 to highlight the historical significance of the year 1809.
In 2018, Finland remembered the civil war that broke out 100 years earlier. The Commemorative Year 1918 theme brought together content and events related to remembrance. The project highlighted the nation’s post-war unification, which was key to Finland’s later success.
The centenary of Finland’s republican form of government – marked by the 1919 Constitution – was celebrated in 2019 with various events throughout the summer and autumn.
The 100th anniversary of Åland’s autonomy was celebrated in 2021 and 2022.