Children's Independence Day celebration to be held on 4 December at the National Opera House

Festive atmosphere from the 2023 celebration/photo: Fanni Uusitalo/Prime Minister's Office

Independence Day is for everyone, both adults and children. This year, two children born in 2014 from each municipality have been invited to the National Opera House to celebrate 107 years of Finnish independence.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will personally welcome each guest at the start of the event. The theme of this year's celebration is 'You are not alone'. In addition to the Prime Minister, Minister of Justice Leena Meri, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio, Minister of Education Anders Adlercreutz, Minister of Science and Culture Sari Multala, Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity Sandra Bergqvist, Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne, Minister of Social Affairs and Health Kaisa Juuso, Minister of Local and Regional Government Anna-Kaisa Ikonen, Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen, and Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Joakim Strand will also be in attendance.

"It is an honour and a pleasure to continue this tradition and invite two 10-year-old guests of honour from each municipality in Finland to celebrate our independence. The theme of this year's celebration is especially meaningful. It is very important for the future of our children, young people and society that we are able to reduce loneliness and create a better sense of community," says Prime Minister Orpo, who will host the celebration.

After the official portion of the event, guests will be able to enjoy a variety of programming, sweet and savoury refreshments and musical performances. Christoffer Strandberg will be the master of ceremonies. As in previous years, the event will also feature a surprise performance.

All in all, 541 children are expected to arrive at the Opera House in Helsinki from 294 municipalities throughout Finland, including the northernmost municipality, Utsjoki, the southernmost municipality, Hanko, and the westernmost municipality in Mainland Finland, Korsnäs.

Now in its sixth year, the national children's Independence Day celebration has become an established part of the Finnish Independence Day festivities. It was held for the first time in 2017 in connection with Finland's centenary.

The Prime Minister's Office is planning and organising the party in cooperation with the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare and the Office of the Ombudsman for Children. This year, the celebration is also co-organised by the National Opera and Ballet. The event will be streamed live on the YLE Areena online service.

Inquiries: Tiina-Kaisa Laakso-Liukkonen, Chief Specialist, tel. +358 295 160 220, and Jaakko Ranta, Communications Specialist, tel. +358 50 472 1684, Prime Minister's Office

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