February the 14th is widely thought of a day for being in love – or going out with friends in order to look for romance. However, this is not always the case across the globe. Since the 1980s, ‘Friend’s Day’ has been a widely celebrated tradition in both Finland and Estonia. The emphasis is placed on platonic love, but everyone is encouraged to get involved – friends and couples alike (although couples are far from centre-stage). It started as a holiday for children to make handmade gifts, but now it’s uncommon for adults not to partake.
In Finland, the 14th is known as Ystävänpäivä (literally ‘Friend’s Day’), and is the second most popular holiday – included in the calendar as of 1996. The day is meant to be a public declaration of friendship, dedicated to the ‘Friends are Forever’ sentiment as a means for celebration. ‘Friend’s Day’ has very little to do with couples in love, and it is more about doing small acts for those you care about. People will organise meet up with their closest buddies or typically send cards to their friends. Ironically, Finland is not typically a culture of big romance or open expression – shaking hands is the most common greeting, even with close friends.
‘Friend’s Day’ is known as Sõbrapäev in Estonian and is widely thought of as a sacred day. Liisa Vesik, an Estonian scholar, suggests that its popularity is a result of the post-socialist period, which has increased Estonian exposure to the international holidays. Very similar to the celebration in Finland, families and friends will share meals and often participate in fun group activities.
The holiday in both Finland and Estonia is becoming increasingly popular and commercialised, maybe suggesting that over time, February 14th will be known as Palentine’s Day instead.
