The 6th of December is the independence day in Finland. "Itsenäisyyspäivä" is a official holiday and a flag day, which means the raise the Finnish flags all over the city. Finland became independent from Russia in 1917. One custom is to put two candles in the window. They did that before the independence of Finland as well, to tell Finnish soldiers on their way to Germany or Sweden to find shelter in their homes from the Russians.
In the past the day was not celebrated as much as it is now, the people gather around with their family and friends and watch the Presidential Independence Day reception.
When I compare the way the day is celebrated in Finland with Germany, where I grew up, it is totally different. In Germany the independence day is the 3rd of October and it is a official holiday, which means not a workday, but it is not celebrated at all. The Germans rarely raise the flags and I think it is not common to celebrate it because of the history. I guess many Germans fear to be called patriotic and connected to their past. In Austria the 26th of October is independence day and Austrians raise the flag in public places and at home. I grew up in Germany but my family is Austrian and therefore my dad raised the Austrian flag every year for independence day. Our neighbor were not very delighted.
