Open-for-all torchlight procession to illuminate the city on Independence Day
As the Independence Day evening grows dark in Jyväskylä, the traditional torchlight procession will begin its progress from Seminaarinmäki to the Old Cemetery.
The first Independence Day torchlight procession of students wandered across the town back in the 1950s. The tradition has continued to this day, and the organising responsibility falls to teacher students.
The procession travels from Seminaarinmäki to the Old Cemetery, where the students lay a wreath at the War Hero Memorial.
Such a procession is a tradition in many university cities. It became a custom for the commemoration of fellow students fallen in war and for honouring Finland’s independence.
“This custom was adopted from the students of Helsinki, who arranged their first torchlight procession in in 1951, the year of Mannerheim’s death,” says Service Manager Pirjo Vuorinen from the Open Science Centre of the Ģֱ. “In Jyväskylä, the first torchlight procession was arranged in 1956. Before the torchlight procession, the Student Union used to visit the War Hero Memorial on the Commemoration Day of fallen soldiers and also on Independence Day. The torchlight procession was a natural extension of those activities.”
In Jyväskylä, the procession was first arranged by the Student Union of Jyväskylä College of Education. Later this responsibility was given to the first-year students of the Department of Teacher Education.
Everybody is welcome
Last year, the procession attracted nearly 150 participants.
“We are looking forward to the procession. Most of us come from outside Jyväskylä, so this procession will be our first. We are anxious to leave our mark,” says Roosa Ukkola, the chair of first-year students’ committee at the Department of Teacher Education.
At the War Hero Memorial, Ukkola and the vice chair of the committee Julia Nukarinen will give speeches at conclusion of the procession. The Musica Choir will also perform.
“Finland’s independence has always been based on a strong commitment to peace, justice and human rights,” Ukkola says. “Defending these values is our duty globally as well.”
Ukkola warmly welcomes everyone to join: “If you have your Finnish student cap handy, you can wear it in the procession, but you may also come without it. Torches will be made available for the participants to carry.”
Procession route and timetable on 6th of December 2023 |
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The torchlight procession starts on Wednesday, 6 December, from in front of the University Main Building (Building C, Seminaarinkatu 15) at 6:00 p.m. The participants are asked to gather at the starting point starting at 5:30 p.m. The procession participants receive torches to carry, and they line up in rows of four persons. |
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The route goes along Kauppakatu and Puistokatu to the Old Cemetery (at the crossing of Puistokatu and Tourukatu). There we will have the wreath-laying event starting at about 6:30 p.m. |
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At the cemetery the programme will also include a performance by the Musica Choir and two speeches. The event will end by 7:00 p.m. |
Photo: The students' torchlight procession tradition started in the 1950s, the photo is from the 1959 procession. Photo by Jyväskylä University Museum/Olavi Porri
