Christmas Peace is Declared in Pori on Christmas Eve at The Old Town Hall
Christmas peace is declared in the traditional manner on Christmas Eve, December 24, in front of the Pori Old Town Hall. The event begins at 11:45 a.m. with Christmas carols performed by the Pori Volunteer Fire Department band.
Before the declaration of Christmas peace, verses 1 and 4 of the hymn Jumala ompi linnamme will be sung, accompanied by the band.
“When the clock strikes 12, a fanfare will be played and the Mayor of Pori, Lauri Inna, will read the declaration of Christmas peace. The event will conclude with the singing of the national anthem Maamme, accompanied by the band, and the playing of the Pori March,” says Jyri Träskelin, head of the cultural unit.
Christmas peace was first declared in Pori in the 18th century. The declaration of Christmas peace is an old city tradition that was revived in 1960. At that time, Mayor Väinö Hahta read the Christmas peace declaration at the Pori Town Hall. The program for the event also included Finnish marching music, Christmas carols, and the Finnish national anthem.
According to his own statement and preserved oral tradition, the text of the Christmas Peace was written by Unto Salo, who served as director of the Satakunta Museum. Salo based the text on a proclamation from Turku, which he modified to be less punitive and supplemented with references to the Christmas Gospel.
The Christmas Peace proclamation ceremony is organized by the City of Pori. The purpose of this festive and solemn event is to get listeners in the mood for Christmas.
Program:
11:45
Christmas carols
Pori VPK band
11:58
Hymn: Jumala ompi linnamme, verses 1 and 4
Pori VPK band and audience
12:00
Fanfare
Declaration of Christmas peace
Lauri Inna, Mayor of Pori
Maamme
Pori VPK band and audience
Porilaisten marssi
Pori VPK band