Happy Birthday!

Today is Itsenäisyyspäivä. My adopted country celebrates 90 years of independence from its bigger neighbours. Strange to think that, in comparison, my country of birth has not been successfully invaded since Norman times or ever conquered, even by the all powerful Romans. (Sorry, is my dim knowledge of English history correct?). In other parts of the world my other adopted country, Ireland, became a free state under British rule on this day in 1921. It didn't gain complete independence (And I suppose still hasn't) until 1937, when the 26 counties became Eiré. In a nutshell, Finland was ruled by Sweden until 1809, when Russia took over until 1917. In another interesting parallel with Ireland, there is an Area known as Karelia, which was ceded to Russia after the Winter and continuation wars 1939-1944. Debate has continued to the present day whether this area could or should be returned to Finland.