Prime Minister Juha Sipilä will host Finland’s centenary celebration for more than 500 schoolchildren from all over the country on December 5, the eve of the Independence Day, said a government press release.

The celebration is organised by the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare, Ombudsman for Children, and Finland’s 100th anniversary organisation at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Sipilä will shake hands with each child and welcome them personally to the event. After the festive beginning the children have the opportunity to engage in various activities: dancing, rapping, having their photo taken, or decorating Christmas cookies. The guests may also congratulate Finland with greeting cards that will be placed on display at the celebration.

“Now that Finland’s centenary year is reaching its climax, we should also look into the future. It is a very special pleasure for me to host the independence celebration for ten-year-olds. It is in the hands of today’s children what Finland will look like when celebrating its 150th anniversary of independence”, Sipilä said.

Two ten-year-old children from each Finnish municipality have been invited to the celebration in Helsinki. The two children travelling the longest distance come from Inari in northern Lapland.