It’s Finland’s Independence Day! And what better way to celebrate than to convene a singing flashmob at Helsinki’s central station?
Forwarded by friend of the blog Marcus Prest, this video was made to support presidential candidate Pekka Haavisto, who made it to the final round a few years ago but lost.
The song is “Finlandia,” by Sibelius, with lyrics written after the Winter War of 1940, when Finland barely survived a ferocious conflict with the Soviet Union. In case you want to sing along, here’s a translation, again courtesy of friend Marcus:
Finland, behold, thy daylight now is dawning, the threat of night has now been driven away. The skylark calls across the light of morning, the blue of heaven lets it have its way, and now the day the powers of night is scorning: thy daylight dawns, O Finland of ours!
Finland, arise, and raise towards the highest thy head now crowned with mighty memory. Finland, arise, for to the world thou criest that thou hast thrown off thy slavery, beneath oppression’s yoke thou never liest. Thy morning’s come, O Finland of ours!
I think I could sing that to the tune of Boston’s “Don’t Look Back.”
Finland’s got one of the loveliest national anthems of anyone. The whole piece by Sebelius is great.
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