Finland has many different traditions and holidays, and I have participated in many of them here. One of my favorites is Independence Day, which I celebrated with friends in December.
I learned about Finnish Independence Day and the variety of activities that Finns often partake in. This day is when Finland became a democratic state. There are a few traditions to participate in throughout the day. First, they have a flag-raising event. In Finland, you do not hang your country's flag every day outside, only when there are specific events or holidays. This event is followed by a military parade that is hosted in a different city every year. This year, it was hosted in the town of Lappeenranta, where I live! Afterwards, they have the Presidential Ball, a big dance with many different guests. This ball does not just host celebrities but also common everyday people whom the president has met or who have accomplished something significant for their local community. Those not invited to this event sit at home and watch the guests walk into the ball and shake the president and their partner's hands, seeing if they know anyone who was invited.
