Anyone, anywhere in the world could organise or take part in a Finnish Your Dinner event in August 2017. A chance to hang out with old friends and meet new ones, the special day let people get a head start on the big party scheduled for December 6, 2017, when Finland officially marks 100 years of independence.
Our slideshow provides an excellent impression of how Finnish Your Dinner was celebrated at locations all over the world.
Global Finnish celebration
The whole northern portion of the Esplanade in downtown Helsinki was closed to traffic to make way for a long line of Finnish Your Dinner tables stretching about half a kilometre. Photo: Dinner Under the Sky
More than one camera recorded Finnish Your Dinner – this picture was snapped on the Esplanade in Helsinki. Photo: Dinner Under the Sky
The table is set over a modern Marimekko pattern at the Finnish embassy in Washington, DC. Photo courtesy of the Finnish embassy in Washington, DC
The design of the Washington embassy lets in the light and provides a very Finnish forest atmosphere while guests toast the occasion at the table inside. Photo courtesy of the Finnish embassy in Washington, DC
The big 100: A cake decorated with blueberries and strawberries says summer in Finland as much as it does in Washington, DC. Photo courtesy of the Finnish embassy in Washington, DC
A segway-riding police officer had time to grab an hors-d’oeuvre on his way down the Esplanade in Helsinki. Photo: Dinner Under the Sky
At the Finnish embassy in Tallinn, Estonia, guests sang together in Finnish and Estonian. Photo courtesy of the Finnish embassy in Tallinn
Everybody join in, now! Photo courtesy of the Finnish embassy in Tallinn
In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the skyline twinkled in the background as people took part in a Finnish Your Dinner banquet. Photo courtesy of the Finnish embassy in Kuala Lumpur
Sunflowers, roses and happy faces at Finnish Your Dinner on the Esplanade in Helsinki. Photo: Dinner Under the Sky
When the Finnish embassy in Singapore set up its Finnish Your Dinner event, the tablecloths were Marimekko, Marimekko and more Marimekko. Photo courtesy of the Finnish embassy in Singapore
Many Finnish Your Dinner events around the world consisted of buffet tables of the tastiest delicacies that Finland – and the local scene – had to offer, such as this spread at the Finnish consulate in St Petersburg, Russia. Photo courtesy of the Finnish consulate in St Petersburg
A local TV crew interviewed the participants in St Petersburg. Photo courtesy of the Finnish consulate in St Petersburg
“Kippis” (cheers) would appear to be one of the most important words in the Finnish language, and a handy word to know if you find yourself at Finnish Your Dinner on the Esplanade. Photo: Dinner Under the Sky
At the Finnish Your Dinner event in Buenos Aires, musicians played tango music – the tango is one thing that Finland and Argentina have in common, despite being located on opposite sides of the globe. Photo courtesy of the Finnish embassy in Buenos Aires
Keeping warm as night falls on the Esplanade in Helsinki. Photo: Dinner Under the Sky
Late in the evening, as the summer sun was setting, people lingered by candlelight on the Esplanade. Photo: Dinner Under the Sky
By ThisisFINLAND staff, August 2017
