Calendar

Holidays and Flag Days to Know in Finland 2020

What are the public holidays, flag days, and just good-to-know days of Finland in 2020? From the days where offices are closed to important festivals, we have your full list here so you don’t miss out on anything!

 

What is a flag day in Finland?

Flag days are days that have been decreed as dates on which to fly a specific flag – usually the national flag. On flag days in Denmark, businesses are not closed nor are there special hours. You’ll see flags flying from the front of buses across the country.

All national institutions must fly the flag on these dates, while private institutions and people are not obligated to do so (though many do).

There are many unofficial flag days when it is nevertheless customary to fly the flag; these have been noted in the calendar below. Many of these days are culturally important and celebrate both an institution (e.g. “Finnish music”) on the birthday of a major contributor to that institution (e.g. composer Jean Sibelius).

Unlike in most other Nordic countries, Easter and Christmas are not flag days. Finnish people are welcome to fly the flag privately on any day they deem important, including family birthdays and weddings.

 

What is a public holiday in Finland?

Public holidays are national holidays when public offices, institutions, and administrative buildings are closed. Some private businesses were also closed while others stay open, including a fair number of restaurants, shops, and grocery stores. This changes year-to-year so check individual websites for holiday opening hours if you’re not sure.

Here are the public holidays, flag days, and important dates to know in Finland 2020.

Also, you can download all these dates for your iCal!

 

January in Finland

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

1 JanuaryNew Year’s Day: Uudenvuodenpäivä
6 JanEpiphany: Loppiainen

 


 

February in Finland

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

5 FebruaryBirthday of national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg: Runebergin päivä
(Unofficial but customary flag day)
28 FebruaryDay of Finnish Culture: Kalevala

 
 

March in Finland

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

19 MarchDay of Equality: tasa-arvon päivä
Birthday of playwright Minna Canth: Minna Canth päivä
(Unofficial but customary flag day)

 


 

April in Finland

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

9 AprilDay of the Finnish Language: suomen kielen päivää
Mikael Agricolan Day: Mikael Agricolan päivää
(Unofficial but customary flag day)
10 AprilGood Friday: Pitkäperjantai
12 AprilEaster Sunday: Pääsiäispäivä
13 AprilEaster Monday: 2. pääsiäispäivä
22 – 26 AprilApril Jazz
23 April – 23 MayRamadan
27 AprilNational War Veteran’s Day: Kansallinen veteraanipäivä
(Unofficial but customary flag day)

 
 

May in Finland

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

1 MayWalpurgis: Vappu
9 MayEurope Day: Eurooppa-päivä
(Unofficial but customary flag day)
10 MayMother’s Day: Äitien päivä
12 MayDay of Finnish Identity: suomalaisuuden päivä
(Unofficial but customary flag day)
16 MayHelsinki Marathon
17 MayCommemoration Day of Fallen Soldiers: Kaatuneitten muistopäivä
(Unofficial but customary flag day)
21 MayAscension Day: helatorstai
31 MayWhit Sunday / Pentecost: Helluntaipäivä

 


 

June in Finland

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

1 JuneWhit Monday
4 JuneDay of Finnish Defense Forces: Puolustusvoimain lippujuhlan päivä
19 JuneMidsummer’s Eve: Juhannusaatto
(An unofficial holiday but shops remain open)
20 JuneMidsummer: Juhannuspäivä
Day of the Finnish Flag: Suomen lipun päivä
22 – 28 JuneHelsinki Pride

 
 

July in Finland

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

6 JulyCelebration of poetry and summer: Runon ja suven päivä
Birthday of poet Eino Leino: Eino Leinon päivä
(Unofficial but customary flag day)
10 – 14  JulyFull Moon Dance Festival

 


 

August in Finland

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

14 – 16 AugustFlow Festival
20 August – 6 SeptemberHelsinki Festival

 
 

September in Finland

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

3 – 13 SeptemberHelsinki Design Week

 


 

October in Finland

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

10 OctoberDay of Finnish Literature: suomalaisen kirjallisuuden päivä
Birthday of national writer Aleksis Kivi: Aleksis Kiven päivä
(Unofficial but customary flag day)
24 OctoberDay of the United Nations: Yhdistyneiden kansakuntien päivä
(Unofficial but customary flag day)
31 OctoberHalloween

 
 

November in Finland

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

1 NovemberAll Saint’s Day: Pyhäinpäivä
6 NovemberFinnish Swedish Heritage Day: Ruotsalaisuuden päivä
Gustavus Adolphus Day: Gustavus Adolphuksen päivä
(Unofficial but customary flag day)
8 NovemberFather’s Day: Isänpäivä
29 NovemberFirst advent

 


 

December in Finland

Flag Day?

Holiday?

Date

Holiday Name

6 DecemberFinnish Independence Day: Itsenäisyyspäivä
6 DecemberSecond advent
8 DecemberDay of Finnish Music: Suomalaisen musiikin päivä
Birthday of composer Jean Sibelius: Jean Sibeliuksen päivää
(Unofficial but customary flag day)
13 DecemberThird advent
13 DecemberSt Lucy’s Day: Lucian päivä
20 DecemberFourth advent
24 DecemberChristmas Eve: Jouluaatto
(An unofficial holiday, included in most collective business agreements)
25 DecemberChristmas Day: Joulupäivä
26 DecemberSecond Day of Christmas: 2. joulupäivä or Tapaninpäivä
31 DecemberNew Year’s Eve: Uudenvuodenaatto

Add all these dates for your iCal!

 


 

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