National holidays of Finland are:

• New Year's Day — January, 1 
• Epiphany Day — January, 6
  
• Good Friday — April 
• Easter — April 
• Spring Festival, or May Day — May, 1 
• Ascension Day — May 
• Whitsunday — May—June 
• Midsummer's Day — June, 22-24 
• All Saints' Day — November 
• Independence Day — December, 6 
• Christmas — December, 24-26

Quiet Finns indulge in hilarious merrymaking only twice a year: on the eve of May, 1 that is the spring holiday and holiday for students when noisy carnivals are held, and on the feast of the midnight sun, the Midsummer Day (St John's Day), which is celebrated in rural areas with lighting bonfires and worshiping an all-day light. The celebration begins on Friday nearest to June, 22 and lasts 3 days.

Christmas and Easter are considered special family holidays. These days not only shops, restaurants and institutions, but even some hotels are closed. Public transport works according to the Sunday regime. Christmas is called "week of light": thousands of light bulbs and candles are lit up in all cities and villages, streets, buildings and apartments are decorated with Christmas garlands. Preparation starts in the middle of November.

On Independence Day there is a grand reception arranged at the Presidential Palace. There are a lot of concerts in the city and on the outskirts, the day ends with a torchlight procession of university students, and people light candles in the windows of their houses.

New Year is celebrated as well as everywhere in the world, with decorated fur-trees, gifts, fireworks and parties arranged in a group of friends.

The Finns like spending their leisure time practising sport, visiting exhibitions, dance halls, going to the concerts and gathering in theatrical circles. The regularly arranged different parades and festivals are especially loved. In each, even a small town, there is an annual traditional festival or holiday, distinguishing it from other cities.

Holiday weeks in Helsinki in late August — early September are recognized as the international cultural event. This is really the only event of its kind in the Scandinavian countries that offers a well-made cultural program each year. The program includes concerts of orchestral and chamber music, opera, dance and theatre performances, jazz, pop and rock music, films and art exhibitions.

Opera Festival in Savonlinna is the most famous cultural event in Finland. World famous actors perform on the stage of the ancient fortress Olavinlinna every year in late July, best-known operas are given. There are also numerous musical concerts. More than 80 000 spectators arrive at the festival.

In the first week of July the "Big Band" Festival gets together jazz bands from all over the world in Imatra. Performances, concerts and mass entertainments continue throughout the week.

"Dance and Play" Music Festival has been taking place in Kuopio in mid-June for 25 years. Dance ensembles from all over the world attend it.

Helsinki Biennale, a new music festival, is organized every two years in March.

Province Days on the Senate Square in Helsinki are devoted to each of the provinces of Finland in turn. In the festival program there are musical events and exhibitions, sales of national crafts works and national delicacies.

St John's Midsummer Day celebration takes place in Helsinki on the island Seurasaari on summer solstice day. On that day bonfires are lit up, various outdoor activities are arranged, along with wedding ceremonies and the national crafts display.

The short films from all over the world are brought at the Tampere Film Festival.

Every two years in the spring Tampere Biennale represents the contemporary musicians and composers.

The International Theatre Festival is held annually in Tampere at the end of August.

The International Jazz Music Festival is dedicated to the new stars of jazz. It is held in Tampere in the autumn.

Kotka Sea Days in early July include sailors' songs concerts, amateur theatrical productions, exhibitions and markets.

Military Music festival in Mikkeli is a theatrical parade of military bands from around the world.

Pori Jazz Festival is held in mid-July.

The International Week of Organ Music in Lahti is organized in early August.

In mid-August, there are noisy and joyful "alcoholic" events: Beer Festival in Savonlinna and Wine Festival in Kuopio.

Translated from az—art.biz