The days the Finnish flag is flown

The days stipulated by law
By law, the Finnish flag must be flown from public buildings on the following days:

  • 28 February, Kalevala day; the occasion is also celebrated as the Day of Finnish Culture
  • 1 May, Labour Day
  • Second Sunday in May, Mothers' Day
  • 4 June, birthday of C.G.E. Mannerheim, Marshal of Finland; the occasion is also celebrated as the Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces
  • Saturday between 20 and 26 June, Midsummer Day; the occasion is also celebrated as the Day of the Finnish Flag
  • 6 December, Independence Day
  • Days when Finland holds parliamentary and local elections, elections to the European Parliament, or a referendum
  • The day the Finnish President is inaugurated
The days on which flying the Finnish flag is an established custom
It has become customary to fly the Finnish flag on the following occasions. The 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 in the same way as on those provided by law.

  • 5 February, birthday of the poet J.L. Runeberg
  • 19 March, birthday of the writer Minna Canth, Day of Equality
  • 9 April, the day Mikael Agricola, the founder of the written Finnish language died and Elias Lönnrot, a collector of folklore was born; the occasion is also celebrated as the Day of the Finnish Language
  • 27 April, National War Veterans' Day
  • 12 May, birthday of the statesman J.V. Snellman
  • Third Sunday in May, Remembrance Day
  • 6 July, birthday of the poet Eino Leino; the occasion is also a celebration of poetry and summer
  • 10 October, birthday of the writer Aleksis Kivi; the occasion is also celebrated as the Day of Finnish Literature
  • 24 October, United Nations Day
  • 6 November, svenska dagen, Finnish Swedish Heritage Day
  • Second Sunday in November, Fathers' Day
In addition to the above dates, the autonomous province of Åland has a number of occasions when the provincial flag, incorporating a red and yellow Scandinavian cross on a blue field is flown on the islands.

There are eleven occasions during the year when the Sámi people can fly their own flag depicting the Sámi colours of red, green, yellow and blue.

When a foreign head of state is on an official state visit to Finland, the Finnish flag is usually flown from public buildings in the localities the visit covers. Usually the Ministry of the Interior also issues a general recommendation on the flying of the Finnish flag on such occasions.

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