Ninth Graders' Independence Day Celebration
Every year, we organise an Independence Day celebration for Vaasa's ninth-graders at the Vaasa City Hall.
The ninth-grade pupils from all the schools in Vaasa are invited to the celebration. The festivities are hosted by Mayor Tomas Häyry and his wife.
The first celebration was already organised in the early 2000s, so it has a long tradition. It is a worthy way to celebrate Finland’s Independence Day.
Programme
The main part of the celebration programme consists of a ball, which means that pupils practice how to dance during the autumn together with physical education teachers.
In addition, the celebration includes a mayor’s speech and the speeches of pupil representatives. The festivities end with a joint rendition of the national anthem (Maamme).
Because of the large number of ninth-graders, the same event will be arrange two days in a row during the festive week. The schools have been divided in advance into two separate occasions.
Bus transportation will be arranged from the schools to the celebration. Pupils from schools located near the place of the celebration, i.e. the City Hall, will arrive on foot.
Unfortunately, it is not possible for guardians to come and watch the celebration, but you can follow the atmosphere on the social media channels of the City of Vaasa.
Representatives of the local media are also invited to the event, so pictures from the event can also be seen, for example, on the pages of local newspapers.
Party etiquette and dress code
The Independence Day celebration is an important occasion where a certain dress code is followed and model behaviour is observed.
The schools enter the hall in the agreed order. We start by shaking hands with the mayor and his wife. During the handshake, we make eye contact and wish them a happy Independence Day. Then, we take a glass of welcome drink.
Pupils receive an official invitation letter to the celebration, which includes the dress code for the event. This means that invited guests are dressed in smart and festive clothes, such as those worn, for example, at confirmations, graduation parties or weddings.
Don’t come to the celebration in jeans, but in a smart dress or suit/straight pants instead. Shoes must also be neat and festive, so no sneakers. Pupils can change their outdoor shoes to indoor shoes in the cloakroom.
Ask your teacher for further instructions if you are unsure about the clothes to wear and the dress code.
City Hall
The celebration will be held at the Vaasa City Hall, which offers a worthy setting for such an event. The Fest Hall on the top floor of the building functions as a concert space for the Vaasa City Orchestra, but also as a representative space for the City of Vaasa, where various official city parties and receptions are organised.
Right at the entrance of the building there is a beautiful staircase, which leads up to the party space on the third floor.
Outerwear can be left in a cloakroom on either the second floor or the party floor (3rd floor). The teachers will tell you which cloakroom your school uses.
The speeches and the ball part of the celebration will be held in the Fest Hall. A catering service is provided in the Fest Hall and in the smaller Mirror Hall. The entire third floor is available during the celebration, so you can tour the premises during the breaks in the official programme.
Find out more about the City Hall and its history and see videos of the interior!
