Anyone milling around the Adelaide Town Hall in Australia, or the Niagra Falls in Canada, or Lumivaara Church in Russia and even The Gateshead Millennium Bridge in Newcastle in the UK on December 6 2017, will all witness the illuminations that celebrate Finland’s 100 years of independence from the Russian Empire.
The hard fought independence was at best shaky at the time. Even Lenin (the man behind the 1917 Russian Revolution), who was the first world leader to recognise the new state believed that Finland would end up becoming part of the Soviet Union.
Sure there was a Bolshevik revolution and a civil war, but somehow the newly autonomous country, much loved by holiday-makers for its snowy festive adventures in Lapland and the Northern Lights, made it through.
One hundred years later and the world is celebrating. There will be blue-and-white light shows across Finland but also elsewhere in the world.
Pekka Timonen, General Secretary of the Centenary of Finland’s Independence, Prime Minister’s Office said:
Finland has received numerous accolades and gifts from around the world this year. Now, the world will turn blue and white for a short time. This is a great moment for Finns and friends of Finland.
Some 30 countries will be commemorating by illuminating landmark sites with the blue and white Finish flag.
Here is where you can see it:
| Country, city | Site to be illuminated |
|---|---|
| Argentina, Buenos Aires | The Usina del Arte cultural centre |
| Australia, Adelaide | Adelaide Town Hall |
| Australia, Brisbane | Story Bridge and Victoria Bridge |
| Australia, Canberra | Telstra Tower, the Old Parliament House, Malcolm Fraser Bridge, Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre(Parkes) |
| Australia, Hobart | Railway Roundabout Fountain, Elizabeth Street Mall and the Kennedy Lane Tourism Precinct |
| Australia, Perth | The Council House building and Trafalgar Bridge |
| Austria, Vienna | The Wiener Riesenrad Ferris wheel |
| Brazil, Rio de Janeiro | The Christ the Redeemer statue |
| Bulgaria, Sofia | The National Palace of Culture |
| Canada | Niagara Falls |
| Cyprus, Nicosia | The White Walls building |
| Czech Republic, Prague | The Dancing House designed by Frank Gehry |
| Estonia, Tallinn | Stenbock House (The seat of the Government) |
| Estonia, Tartu | The Vanemuine Theatre, Võidu sild Bridge, Kaarsild Bridge |
| Ethiopia, Addis Ababa | Lion of Judah monument in front of the Ethiopian National Theatre |
| Greece, Athens | The Arch of Hadrian |
| Hungary, Budapest | Elizabeth Bridge |
| Iceland, Reykjavik | Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre |
| Ireland, Dublin | Mansion House, the residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin |
| Italy, Rome | The Colosseum |
| Kazakhstan, Astana | The bridges across the Ishim River, St. Regis hotel |
| Latvia, Jelgava | Railway Bridge |
| Latvia, Riga | The Tower of the Town Hall in the Old Town |
| Mexico, Mexico City | The Angel of Independence monument |
| Mozambique, Maputo | Maputo Fortress |
| Netherlands, Alkmaar | Stadskantine Alkmaar |
| Norway, Oslo | Holmenkollen ski jumping hill |
| Poland, Warsaw | The Palace of Culture and Science |
| Portugal, Lisbon | Belém Tower (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) |
| Russia, Lumivaara | Lumivaara Church |
| Serbia, Belgrade | Ada Bridge, Palace Albania |
| Sweden, Stockholm | The Mannerheim memorial |
| United Kingdom, Newcastle | The Gateshead Millennium Bridge |
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