l33g0's video: Finland s Independence Day 6 12 2010 Hietaniemi Cemetery Hietaniemen Hautausmaa Helsinki

Suomen itsenäisyyspäivän viettoa Hietaniemen hautausmaalla 6.12.2010. Finland's Independence Day on the 6th of December is celebrated with joy, respect and dignity in many traditional events. Independence Day is in Finnish ”Itsenäisyyspäivä”; in Swedish ”Självständighetsdagen”. During the Independence Day, the Soldiers' Graves at the Hietaniemi Cemetery (Hietaniemen hautausmaa) of Helsinki is lined with candles. People pay their respects to the fallen soldiers who fought with their lives for the independence and existence of the nation of Finland.  The Hietaniemi cemetery includes a large military cemetery section for soldiers fallen in the wars against the Soviet Union in the Winter War (Talvisota 1939–1940) and the Continuation War (Jatkosota 1941–1944), and against Nazi Germany in the Lapland War (Lapin sota 1944–1945). In the center of the military cemetery are the tombs of the Unknown Soldier (Tuntematon sotilas), Marshal C. G. E. Mannerheim and General Adolf Ehrnrooth. A number of monuments dedicated to people who lost their lives in wars have been set up in the area. Burial sites for veterans and their spouses are located in the area of the cemetery closest to the sea. The Heroes' Place (Sankarialue), which spreads in front of the Heroes' Cross (Sankariristi) and the surrounding area with its monuments commemorating fallen soldiers has become the symbol of Finland’s unity, freedom and history. A bronze cross for war heroes was made by sculptor Wäinö Aaltonen. One of the most moving monuments is a memorial wall engraved with the names of 734 fallen local soldiers who disappeared or whose remains were never returned in the 1939-1944 wars. As the evening falls, the traditional University Students' Torch Parade (Ylioppilaiden soihtukulkue) starts off at the Hietaniemi Cemetery, heading towards the Senate Square in the Helsinki center. The Hietaniemi Cemetery was established in 1829 and is the site where Finnish state funerals are held. It is located centrally in Helsinki on a headland mainly in the Lapinlahti quarter and partly in the Etu-Töölö district. Hietaniemi means ”sand cape”.