Thursday 5 December 2013

December (love)

It's December already, which means that Christmas is getting closer. :) There are only two more school weeks to go through before the vacation starts. I'm so looking forward to it. It'll be time for relaxing, which I really need. 

I'm on a Christmas mood already - have been listening to quite many Xmas songs lately. ;) Here's one that I particularly like. It's a rather sad song, tho. 



Tomorrow (Dec. 6th) we celebrate Independence Day in Finland, which means NO SCHOOL. hah. Even though I have always been bad at history at school, I have still always been somehow interested in it. Well, not that into war stuff but other things are so fascinating. 

Here's some history: 
The movement for Finland's Independence started after the revolutions in Russia (1917), caused by the disturbances from the defeats of the First World War. This gave an opportunity for Finland to withdraw from Russia. After several disagreements between the non-socialists and the social-democrats about the matter of who should have the power in Finland, the parliament, led by Per Evind Svinhufvud, finally declared Finland as an independent state, on the 6th of December 1917.


The national festivities of Independence Day, begin by raising the flag in Tähtitorni hill, in Helsinki. This is then followed with the festive divine service at the Cathedral of Helsinki, where by tradition, the President (our current president is Sauli Niinistö) is also present. In the evening the President receives guests for the gala occasion which is held at the President's Palace in Helsinki (However, this year the event is organized in Tampere because of the construction work in the President's Palace). Approximately 2000 people are invited to this banquet every year, and war veterans attend as the guests of honour. The event is broadcast on television, and it is a very popular happening which collects millions of Finns in front of the TV every year.
Every Year on Independence Day, the Finnish Defense Forces arranges a military parade in one of the garrison cities. Independence Day is an official flag-raising day, and in every home, two candles are normally lit to honor the day.


Every year on Independence day my mom and I bake Christmas cookies. :) It's such a nice tradition. At the same time we listen to Xmas songs. heh.  

Now to the mail update. :) 
Like I predicted, this week was full of mail. Letters arrived from: 
- Silvina, Argentina 
- Ga Yeon, South Korea 
- Ilona, Latvia 
- Amit, Israel 
- Ida, United Kingdom (Norway) 

















ARGENTINA

SPAIN

UNITED KINGDOM


and sent to: 
- Emilia, Finland 

I'm sure I'll enjoy this long weekend but I hope you'll have a great one, too. :) 

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