December 6th, 1917. Finland is independent and no longer belongs to Russia.
This day is celebrated each year. The Finns mainly celebrate by lighting blue
and white candles and eating a nice meal with their family. Every year, the
president invites about 2000 guests at the Presidential Palace for the Presidential
Independence Day Reception. This reception is broadcasted every year on
national television. The guest enter according to a certain protocol :
first the Knights of the Mannerheim Cross, followed by the members of the
government and parliament archbishops, judges, high military
and police officers, and various diplomats and dignitaries, and then enter the
guests who were chosen by the president himself, usually entertainers,
activists and sportpersons, the last people to enter are the surviving former
presidents.
President Sauli Niinistö at the Independence Day Reception in 2012
Independence Day was of course also celebrated
at school, together with the graduation of some students. I performed with the
other members of the school choir three songs (in Finnish!!): Täällä Pohjantahden Alla (for the
original version click here), Jotain Jää
(for the original version click here), and Hetken
tie on kevyt (for the original version click here). After the performance, we (the choir) went back to the Music Room and sang a few songs just for us...
I will never forget this day, it was an amazing experience and I had a lot of fun!
I also celebrated Independence Day with my friends Azusa and Kiki, we had a sleepover party from Saturday to sunday. We watched "Mamma Mia", "Les Miserables" (that's right, I finally saw it!) and "Pretty Woman". We also played some games, I won quite a lot of chocolate at poker before my luck changed and Kiki won everything... In short: it was so much fun!!!
On sunday afternoon, I went to a pikkujoulu (little Christmas) party with the other exchange students and volunteers from AFS. There was lots of food and Glöggi. Joulupukki (Santa Claus) even came! He gave us all gifts, I received two packs of chocolate, my hostsisters ate most of it... It was the perfect end to a great weekend! 
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