Nat´l children’s Independence Day marked at Govt Palace

A total of 536 children from 266 municipalities took part in the children's Independence Day celebration at the Government Palace on Monday, said a government press release.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo welcomed the children at the programme jointly organised by the Prime Minister's Office, the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare and the Office of the Ombudsman for Children.

Now organised for the fifth time, the national children’s Independence Day celebration has become an established part of the Finnish Independence Day festivities.

Minister of Finance Riikka Purra, Minister of Science and Culture Sari Multala and Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah also took part in the celebration.

Orpo delivered the opening address to mark the 106th anniversary of independent where Secretary General Milla Kalliomaa from the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare and Ombudsman for Children Elina Pekkarinen also spoke.

The theme of this year’s celebration at the Government Palace was friendship and friendship skills.

The guests had been asked in advance for drawings, photographs or other pieces of art on the theme of friendship, and the works were collected into an exhibition in the banquet hall.

The celebration was hosted by Essi Unkuri and featured music by The Guards Band Quintet and a surprise performance by Käärijä.

Two children born in 2013 from each municipality in Finland were invited to the celebration.

The children were selected and signed up for the event by the municipalities.