The Story of Finnish Nature Day – How Finland Brings People Closer to Nature

Photo: Metsähallitus/ Aino Jylhänlehto

Published on: 01/12/25

At the EUROPARC Conference 2025, Tiina Hakkarainen Manager, Corporate Relations, Parks & Wildlife Finland presented the Finnish Nature Day! Learn more about this initiative that aims to bring nature and people closer together again.

Article written by Tiina Hakkarainen.

A Day for Nature and People!

Finnish Nature Day is celebrated every year on the last Saturday of August. This special day dedicated to nature offers concrete ways to enjoy the outdoors together. Positive nature experiences – such as spending a night in a forest hotel or enjoying art in a natural setting – increase people’s appreciation of nature and their willingness to protect it. Finnish Nature Day receives wide media attention and provides an excellent opportunity to highlight the importance of nature to broad audiences. Social media also fills with greetings and beautiful outdoor photos shared in honour of the day.

Photo: Metsähallitus/ Saara Lavi

Finland is the first country in the world to fly its national flag for nature. The aim of the day is to increase appreciation for nature and strengthen the relationship Finns have with the natural world in our increasingly urbanised society.

In Finland, many national celebration days come with traditional pastries that reflect the season and cultural heritage. A popular way to celebrate Finnish Nature Day is to bake a blueberry pie using berries picked from the wild.

Finnish Nature Day is not only a celebration – it also raises awareness of the importance of nature and strengthens people’s desire to protect it. When people recognise the value of nature and celebrate it, a positive attitude towards conservation follows naturally.

History of Finnish Nature Day

Finnish Nature Day was celebrated for the first time in August 2013. The last Saturday of August soon became the established date of the celebration, marking the end of summer and the beginning of harvest season in Finland.

The day’s steadily growing popularity and rapid rise to the ranks of Finland’s important national observances show that nature holds a central place in Finnish culture – something truly worth celebrating and flying the flag for.

From the very beginning, the day has had a relaxed and easy-going atmosphere. Even during the year Finland celebrated its 100th anniversary – when many events were particularly festive and choir concerts were held in all national parks – the mood remained open and joyful. From the outset, everyone has been encouraged to celebrate nature in their own way.

Finnish Nature Day Logo

How the Celebration Is Organised

Finnish Nature Day is coordinated by a steering group with representatives from organisations related to nature, the environment, outdoor activities and public health, from across the country. The day has its own website that provides information, tips for organising events, and materials for day-care centres, schools and the media. In the early years, public excursions organised for Finnish Nature Day were collected into a shared event calendar, and event organisers stayed in touch through a dedicated Facebook group. Over time, the day has grown into an established tradition, and coordination is now needed less than before.

On Finnish Nature Day, public events and local nature trips are organised, people hug trees, take part in nature volunteering, and sleep a night outdoors. Excursions are arranged by various nature and outdoor organisations, friends’ associations of national parks and partner enterprises. The day can also be celebrated simply by heading outdoors alone or with friends to enjoy a campfire snack and the atmosphere. For many Finns, this has been the most meaningful way to mark the occasion.

The day brings together government representatives, citizens, companies and organisations in a cheerful and unifying spirit. Opposition and political tensions are set aside. A few simple elements – such as flag flying, the official celebratory pastry (blueberry pie), and a shared social media hashtag – tie the relaxed festivities together.

Photo: Metsähallitus/ Ulla Keituri

Inspiring Europe to Celebrate Nature

In Finland, the Priodiversity LIFE project is currently underway, aiming to halt biodiversity loss. The project brings together a wide and diverse group of committed stakeholders who, together, have the potential to find the most effective and cost-efficient means to stop biodiversity loss in Finland. One of the project’s goals is to expand the celebration of a dedicated nature day across the EU with the support of Members of the European Parliament. Finnish Nature Day has grown into a beloved tradition, and now we hope to bring this idea to the whole of Europe. The Priodiversity LIFE project is coordinated by Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife Finland.

Prodiversity logo

Imagine a day when nature receives the recognition it deserves – when national leaders speak for nature, and people across the continent head outdoors to celebrate the forests, lakes and landscapes that make their home countries unique. If this were to take place all across Europe, nature conservation would gain significant visibility.

A suitable date could be, for example, European Day of Parks on 24 May. EUROPARC coordinates this celebration of Europe’s Parks and Protected Areas, inviting visitors everywhere to spend time in nature – or another day that best fits the climate and seasonal conditions of your own country.

We now invite you to join us: let’s make Nature Day a shared European celebration!