Independence Day | 6th December | Finland

Finnish: itsenäisyyspäivä, Swedish: självständighetsdag

From the late 12th century until 1809, Finland was part of Sweden, a legacy reflected in the prevalence of the Swedish language and its official status. It then became the Grand Duchy of Finland, an autonomous duchy within the Russian Empire, until the Russian Revolution which prompted the Finnish Declaration of Independence in 1917.

In 1906, Finland became the first nation in the world to give full suffrage (the unrestricted right to vote and to run for office) to all adult citizens, including women.

This Nordic country is a top performer in numerous metrics of national performance, including education, economic competitiveness, civil liberties, quality of life, and human development. 

And yes, text messaging was invented by a Finn!

Published: 5th December 2016

Categorised in: Events