Impacts of the Finland 100 anniversary year: Part 4 : Conclusions: legacy of the centenary

In the conclusions of the overall report we summarize the results of our research project on the Finland 100 anniversary year and present our reflections on the legacy of the centenary. Our objective has been to produce a picture of the impacts of the centenary on the Finnish society and its different actor groups. The Finland 100 anniversary year will leave as an example for future anniversary years an operating model based on broad participation which in its very openness is depictive of the functioning of Finnish society in 2017. The centenary did enable a wide range of actions, but on the other hand it did not really highlight any special theme in relation to the Finnish society. The centenary did not endeavor to reshape the great national stories or strongly bring the nation together. The program and tone of the anniversary year support the building of a national Finnish identity from a diversity of ingredients in the future as well. The anniversary year showed that the celebrations of a national centenary can also deal with smaller, more mundane and more cheerful aspects of Finnishness. The Finland 100 anniversary year presents itself first and foremost as an enabling and diverse “feel-good” celebration. In view of inclusion, the centenary comes across as an inviting but temporary phenomenon. The successful and cheerful anniversary year showed that Finns still can, if need be, get along with each other quite well or at least give each other space