F

inland is getting ready to celebrate its first centennial as an independent country with a series of events.

In Jakarta, Finnish Ambassador Paivi Hiltunen-Toivio planted on Friday a spruce tree with the help of outgoing Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama at Menteng Park in Central Jakarta.

Named the “Spruce of the Future,” the tree was planted in preparation for the 100-day countdown to Finnish Independence Day, which falls on Dec. 6.

“Trees are a source of life for Finnish people,” Hiltunen-Toivo said as quoted by kompas.com.

“We want to build a better future with our friends in Jakarta and Indonesia.”

Meanwhile, Basuki appreciated the way the Finnish Embassy commemorate its Independence Day by planting a tree.

“Planting a tree means friendship. We want to stay friendly,” Basuki said.

The Finnish tradition to plant trees in celebrating independence started in 1917, after Finland declared independence from the Russian Empire on Dec. 6, 1917.

A spruce tree was planted that year, which became locally known as the Independence Spruce, the Finnish Embassy’s official for political affairs and public diplomacy Pirjo-Liisa Heikkila explained during a luncheon on Wednesday.

In 1967, more than 30,000 spruce seedlings — which reportedly came from the Independence Spruce itself — were planted to commemorate Finland’s 50th year of independence.

“These spruces are known as Home Spruces and spruces have been planted since then,” Heikkila said.

“We wanted to plant the Home Spruce [in Jakarta], but we are afraid it will not grow well here due to the climate difference.”

Heikkila said the embassy finally settled on a local type of spruce known as a cemara tree.

She also said the embassy was ready to hold several other activities to celebrate the centennial of Finnish independence.

“We will surely hold a reception on Dec. 6,” she said.

“But before then, will hold an event called ‘Finnish Your Dinner!’ on Aug. 26.”

“Finnish Your Dinner!” is a potluck event in which attendees bring their own food to share with others, the diplomat explained.

“The embassy will also offer some Finnish food to participants so they can have a taste of our meals,” Heikkila said.

She added that a Finnish Food Festival would be held later this year by inviting a top chef all the way from Finland.

“We will also have a Finnish School Day, but we have not decided yet [in] which school [to hold the event],” she said.

Also attending the luncheon on Wednesday was Finnish senior journalist Rauli Virtanen, who had attended a series of events commemorating World Press Freedom Day in Jakarta.

Virtanen shared his experienced covering a number of wars and conflicts as well as discussing press freedom challenges.