![Aerial photograph of Helsinki downtown](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/Aerial_photograph_of_Helsinki_downtown.jpg)
Helsinki Day () is an annual celebration in
Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...
, held on 12 June, to celebrate the city of
Helsinki
Helsinki ( or ; ; sv, Helsingfors, ) is the Capital city, capital, primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Finland, most populous city of Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the region of U ...
. The number of attendees in the events on the day exceeds one hundred thousand. On the day, the
Helsinki Medal
Helsinki ( or ; ; sv, Helsingfors, ) is the Capital city, capital, primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Finland, most populous city of Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the region of U ...
is awarded to noteworthy citizens by the city council.
The event was started by mayor
Lauri Aho Lauri may refer to:
* Lauri (given name), including a list of people with the name
* Lauri (surname), including a list of people with the name
* Lauri, Põlva County, a village in Estonia
* Lauri, Rapla County, a village in Estonia
* Lauri, Võru ...
and secretary of the
Helsinki Society Jorma Waronen in the late 1950s. The first Helsinki day was celebrated in 1959 on the 409th anniversary of the founding of Helsinki.
The number of attendees at events on Helsinki Day already exceeded ten thousand in the early 1960s. In the same decade, the events were made more entertaining and diverse. Main events, such as ice hall concerts, were added. As the day gained popularity, the association of neighbourhood societies wanted to expand the celebration to a full Helsinki Week in the late 1970s, but the city council denied permission. Nowadays, Helsinki Week, culminating on Helsinki Day, has been established, and it is directed by the event unit of the Helsinki city council.
Since the 1990s, various units of the city council, organisations and corporations have organised events on Helsinki Day. The free-of-charge "Kaivari" concert in
Kaivopuisto
Kaivopuisto ( sv, Brunnsparken), nicknamed ''Kaivari'' in Finnish or ''Brunsan'' in Swedish, is one of the oldest and best known parks in central Helsinki, Finland, and also a neighbourhood of about 500 inhabitants where the park is located.
Geo ...
is probably the best known among the public.
Helsinki Day includes the selection of the annual ''Stadin Kundi'' ("Man of the city") and ''Stadin Friidu'' ("Woman of the city") by
Stadin Slangi ry.
See also
*
Helsinki Pride
Helsinki Pride is an LGBT pride event in Helsinki, Finland. The event takes place during the last week of June.
The event lasts all week and is usually held the week after midsummer. On Monday, the program opens, and during the week there are ...
*
Helsinki Samba Carnaval
The Helsinki Samba Carnaval is an annual samba (Brazilian dance), samba carnival held in Helsinki, the capital of Finland, since 1991.
The carnival takes place on the weekend in early to middle June, normally close to the Helsinki Day on 12 June. ...
*
Tampere Day
Tampere Day ( fi, Tampereen päivä; sv, Tammerforsdagen) is an annual celebration in Finland, held on October 1, to celebrate the city of Tampere; on that date, Tampere was granted full city rights in 1779. Tampere Day has been celebrated since ...
External links
Official website
Culture in Helsinki
Recurring events established in 1959
June observances
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