Traditional Independence Day celebration for Espoo’s sixth-graders on 4 December

On the day of the celebration, three events will be organised with a total of almost 4,000 pupils along with their teachers attending. The celebration will begin with a toast, after which the pupils will greet the representatives of the City of Espoo. The event will also include speeches, dancing to music performed by the Conscript Band of the Finnish Defence Forces and singing the Finnish national anthem. 

The sixth-graders from Sunan koulu, Adele Aalto, Aapo Soini, Saima Puhakka, and Spiro Margkioni, are looking forward to upcoming celebrations. Celebrating especially with sixth-graders from other schools, meeting old friends, dancing together, and enjoying refreshments are some of the things the students are anticipating. 

"We have practiced our national anthem in Finnish and Swedish. We have also rehearsed kikapoo and waltz, and familiarized ourselves with the flow of the celebration, the etiquette, and how to behave well during the event," they explain. 

The Independence Day celebration will be organised in cooperation by the City of Espoo and the Conscript Band of the Finnish Defence Forces. Conscripts will participate in the organisation of the event as part of their non-commissioned officer course.  

“The Conscript Band has, since 2017, had the opportunity to be part of organizing the celebration on-site in Opinmäki, with the exception of the years 2020 and 2021 when the celebration was conducted virtually. This has been a great joy and honour for us, and it is wonderful to return once again to Opinmäki to celebrate Independence Day with the young people!” says Aleksandr Toronen, Public Information Officer of the Conscript Band of the Finnish Defence Forces. 

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