Finland marks end of the Winter War 2026 – Hornets roar across the sky as nation falls silent

Today, Friday 13th March 2026, Finland stood still. At noon, many cities fell silent, but in Tampere and Kajaani, all eyes were on the sky – watching as Hornets roared low overhead in tribute to those who, 86 years ago, endured that Icy Hell. The memorial day marking the end of the Winter War has always held a sacred place in our hearts, but this year felt particularly poignant. As the Hornets swept low over the city centres, I felt the same shiver down my spine that my grandfather once described feeling in 1940, when silence finally descended on the front line.

The roar of the Hornets stirs the soul – crowds gather in Tampere and Kajaani

Rumours had been circulating since yesterday that something was planned, but when the aircraft actually appeared, it still took everyone by surprise. In Tampere, Hämeenkatu was filling with people well before midday. Traffic came to a standstill, and strangers leant on each other – some with tears in their eyes. As the jets emerged on the horizon and swept low towards the city centre, the sound wasn't just heard; it was felt deep in the chest. Many an elderly woman could be heard murmuring quietly: "See, we remember." In Kajaani, the scene repeated itself: two flypasts, and the crowd of descendants of veterans standing in front of the town hall applauded – not loudly, but with profound respect.

The spirit of the Winter War lives on – today, it was seen and heard

This day isn't just about history. It's a living reminder of what the Finnish Winter War of 1939–1940 demanded and what it gave us. This year, the memorial day was marked with an unusually warm atmosphere, even though temperatures in many places dipped below minus ten degrees. In Helsinki, the President laid a wreath at Hietaniemi Cemetery, and the Knights of the Mannerheim Cross received a silent tribute. But for me, the most powerful moment was watching families with young children in Tampere pointing to the sky – those little hands waving, not understanding the war itself, but sensing that this was a moment of profound importance.

• Tampere: Flypasts just before eleven o'clock, an estimated couple of thousand people gathered.
• Kajaani: The jets made two passes, the first just after twelve.
• Helsinki: The official programme at Hietaniemi drew hundreds who fell silent in remembrance.
• Rovaniemi: Candles were also lit along the Tornio riverbank, in memory of times past.

And this evening, as I light a candle on my windowsill, I'll think of those young men who, in the winter of 1940, gave their lives on the fronts at Kollaa, Suomussalmi and Taipale. The Winter War isn't just Talvisota to us – it's part of our identity. It's a reminder that when the cold bites hard and the enemy is stronger, we never, ever give up. Today, the Hornets said it loud and clear, and all of us heard the message.

Commemorations will continue into the evening, with families across the country watching old newsreels and reading diaries. And if you happen to be out after nine o'clock tonight, listen carefully – somewhere over Finland, you might just hear one last rumble, a final salute to mark the end of this day of remembrance.