Finland Dates and Calendars

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Finland

Dates and Calendars

Online Resources

• Sweden Feast Day Calendars - use these feast day calendars for Finland, as Sweden had jurisdiction over Finland from about 1150-1809 CE.
  • See also Genealogical Feast Day Calendars

Background

Pre-11th Century

• Runic Calendars: Like its Scandinavian neighbors, early Finns used runic calendars based on lunar cycles and agricultural seasons. These calendars, often carved on wood or bone, served both practical and religious purposes.
• Influence from Abroad: Trade and cultural exchange with neighboring regions, particularly Sweden, introduced the Julian calendar, a solar calendar with 12 months. However, its adoption in Finland was gradual and regional, often coexisting with older runic systems.

Christianization and the Julian Calendar (11th-18th Centuries)

• Christian Conversion (12th Century): With the arrival of Christianity, the Julian calendar gained prominence for religious and official purposes. Feast days and saints' days became important markers of time, reflected in detailed church calendars.
• Feast Day Calendars: The church year, with its fixed and movable feast days, became another important timekeeping system. These calendars were regularly used in church records, and some church events were occasionally recorded using feast days, such as "3 söndagen före påsk" (the 3rd Sunday before Easter).
• Julian Calendar Discrepancy: Over time, the Julian calendar's slight inaccuracy caused dates to drift from the actual seasons. This discrepancy created pressure for reform, a challenge faced by many European countries.

Adopting the Gregorian Calendar (18th Century)

• Swedish Calendar (1700-1712): Between February 29, 1700 (Julian) and February 29, 1712 (Julian), the Swedish government used its own "Swedish Calendar". As part of the transition from the Swedish Calendar back to the Julian calendar in 1712, the month of February in 1712 has 30 days.
• Adoption of the Gregorian Calendar (1753): The Swedish government began using the Gregorian calendar on February 18, 1753. Prior to that, they used the Julian calendar. Thus, 18 Feb 1753 became 1 Mar 1753 in the new Gregorian calendar.
• Challenges and Reluctance: Similar to other countries, the Gregorian system wasn't universally welcomed in Finland. Rural areas, particularly those with strong traditional ties, may have resisted the change, clinging to older methods for years.

Finnish Independence and Modernization (19th Century - Present)

• Independence (1917): With its independence from Russia in 1917, Finland established its own national calendar, incorporating both traditional Finnish holidays and international observances.
• Standardization and Simplification: Over the past century, Finland's calendar has continued to evolve, with holidays and observances being added, removed, or adjusted. Today, the country uses a standardized version of the Gregorian calendar, similar to most of the world.