Torchlight Procession of Independence Day, 6 December

The student unions of the capital region (HYY, KY, SAY, SHS, TKY) organise the traditional student torchlight procession on Independence Day. The event starts with laying a garland on the Hero Cross at Hietaniemi War Veteran Cemetery. The torchlight procession starts from Hietaniemenkatu and ends to Senate Square where the Lord Mayor and the chairpersons of the student union boards speak and the YL Male Voice Choir sings.

Photo: Juho Saarinen, 2008




The torchlight procession of Independence Day was first organised in 1951 when Marshal Mannerheim died. The event began with laying a garland on soldiers’ and Mannerheim’s graves and after that approximately 2000 university students marched in the torchlight procession to Senate Square to listen to speeches and songs performed by male choirs. Many citizens were already then following the event and since that, the torchlight procession has become an event for all the citizens of Helsinki.




Photo: Juho Saarinen, 2008