Åland Islands marks 104 years of autonomy with flag day celebrations

The Åland Islands celebrated Autonomy Day on Tuesday, marking 104 years since the archipelago’s first regional parliament convened under Finnish sovereignty, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports.

Flags flew across the islands in honor of the occasion, including the region’s blue-yellow-red Nordic cross flag. The day is one of three official flag-flying holidays in Åland.

In the capital, Mariehamn, celebrations included a parade and public festivities. The autonomous Finnish province was granted self-governance in 1921 by a League of Nations decision, with its parliament first assembling on June 9, 1922.