Finland’s archbishop defends Suvivirsi as part of national cultural heritage

The archbishop of Finland’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Tapio Luoma, has affirmed that the hymn Suvivirsi is an integral part of Finnish cultural tradition, according to a statement released Wednesday.

The remarks follow a dispute in Espoo, where the city’s equality board imposed a €10,000 penalty on a school for subjecting a student to alleged discrimination by requiring them to listen to Suvivirsi and Varpunen jouluaamuna during a school celebration.

Luoma acknowledged the importance of examining equality and school practices but stressed that Finland’s cultural heritage—including its Christian roots—is deeply embedded in poetry, music, and traditions without constituting religious observance.

“Complete worldview neutrality is ultimately impossible,” Luoma wrote, urging respectful dialogue. He framed diversity as a strength, adding that encountering unfamiliar beliefs should not be seen as a threat.