Orders, decorations, and medals of Finland

The orders, decorations and medals of Finland form a system through which the Finnish government shows its respect to persons who have distinguished themselves on some walk of life. The legal basis of the system is the Act on the displays of public recognition (1215/1999) which grants the president the authority to issue decrees on orders, medals and titles.

All three Finnish orders on display at the state funeral of Martti Ahtisaari together with his Nobel Peace Prize.

The system is divided into three groups:

1. orders
2. decorations and medals
3. titles

Orders, decorations, and medals

Order of the Cross of Liberty, 3rd class with swords

Orders

There are three official Finnish orders:

• The Order of the Cross of Liberty, founded in 1918
• The Order of the White Rose of Finland, founded in 1919
• The Order of the Lion of Finland, founded in 1941

The President of Finland is the grand master of all orders. Of the orders, the Order of the Cross of Liberty is the most distinguished and awarded the most seldom. Its decorations are awarded only for military or national defence merits, although the order is not purely military: civilians may receive decorations of the order for national defence merits. The other two orders are awarded both for civilian and military merits. The bulk of the decorations are awarded twice a year, on 4 June on the Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces, and on the Independence day, 6 December. In total, there are about 6.000 awards a year.

The orders of the White Rose and the Lion of Finland have a common board and chancellor, while the Order of the Cross of Liberty has a separate board and chancellor. All orders are awarded by the president of Finland.

The Order of the Cross of Liberty is always awarded "with swords" to military persons, with an additional ribbon in rosette form (see image in the beginning of the article) for combat or war-time merits. The decorations of the Order of the White Rose of Finland are awarded "with swords" only for combat merits and the decorations of the Order of the Lion of Finland only for war-time military merits. As such merits are usually recognised by decorations of the Order of the Cross of Liberty, the awards of the Order of the White Rose of Finland "with swords" have been vanishingly rare. The decorations of the Order of the Lion of Finland were awarded "with swords" mainly for merits incurred in home front service. No awards of either order have been issued "with swords" for merits incurred after the Second World War.

In addition to the three official orders, there is one semi-official: the Order of the Holy Lamb of the Orthodox Church of Finland.

Decorations and medals

The cross of merit of customs service with a clasp, a typical Finnish branch-specific cross of merit. The cross is awarded by the minister responsible for customs for distinguished service or contributions to the customs service. A cross with a clasp may be awarded in special cases.

The individual areas of government have usually a separate awards system designed to show respect for those persons who do not qualify for an order. Such medals are founded by a presidential decree. Most typically, they include one or two classes: a cross and a medal. Thus far, the following medals have been founded

• The medal of merit of motor transport
• The medals of merit of customs service
• The crosses and medals of merit of Finnish sports and culture of physical exercise
• The Olympic cross (1st and 2nd class) and medal of merit
• The cross and medals of merit of Finnish Red Cross
• Life saving medal
• The memorial medal of the "War of Liberation", i.e. to the participants of the Troops of the Republic of Finland (Whites) in the Finnish Civil War (1918)
• The memorial medal of the Winter War (1939–1940)
• The memorial medal of the Continuation War (1941–1944) and Lapland War (1944–1945)
• Mine clearance medal
• Medal for humane benevolence (Pro Benignitate Humana)
• The cross of merit of the invalids of war
• The cross and medal of merit of police
• The cross and medal of merit of Finnish Border Guard
• The badge of merit of fire prevention
• The 1st and 2nd classes of the medal of merit of civil defence
• The cross of merit of prison service
• The cross of merit of customs service, with or without a clasp
• The military merit medal
• The golden medal of merit of Suomen Reserviupseeriliitto (Finnish reserve officers' association)
• Guild metal of merit
• The cross of merit of Reserviläisliitto – Reservin Aliupseerien Liitto (Reservists' association – Reserve NCOs' association)
• The medal of merit of Insinööriupseeriliitto (Engineer Officers' association)
• The medal of merit of Kadettikunta (Cadet Corps)
• The medal of merit of traffic safety branch
• The special medal of merit of work for working environment

In addition, there is a state decoration for 30 years of service of state. The corresponding decorations of the Central Chamber of Commerce and City of Helsinki the League of Finnish Municipalities are also approved for use with the official decorations. Other decorations of private bodies may only be used privately.

The awarding body of the medals and crosses of merits varies. Although the decorations are founded by the president, the awarding body is usually the chief of the authority in question, i.e. a minister or a high-level civil servant.

Order of precedence

The official order of precedence is:

	Name In English, Finnish, and Swedish	Abbreviation
1	Grand Cross, with Collar,of the Order of the White Rose of Finland Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun suurristi ketjuineen Storkorset med kedja av Finlands Vita Ros’ orden	FWR GC collar SVR SR ketj. FVR SK kedj.
2	Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Liberty Vapaudenristin suurristi Frihetskorsets storkors	- VR SR FrK SK
3	Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun suurristi Storkorset av Finlands Vita Ros’ orden	FWR GC SVR SR FVR SK
4	Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland Suomen Leijonan suurristi Storkorset av Finlands Lejons orden	FL GC SL SR FLO SK
5	Mannerheim Cross, 1st Class, of the Order of the Cross of Liberty Vapaudenristin 1. luokan Mannerheim -risti Frihetskorsets Mannerheimkors av 1. klass	- MR 1 MK 1
6	Cross of Liberty, 1st Class with star 1. luokan Vapaudenristi rintatähtineen Frihetskorsets 1. klass med kraschan	- VR 1 rtk. FrK 1 mkr.
7	Commander, First Class, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun I luokan komentajamerkki Kommendörstecknet av I klass av Finlands Vita Ros’ orden	FWR C I SVR K I FVR K I
8	Commander, First Class, of the Order of the Lion of Finland Suomen Leijonan I luokan komentajamerkki Kommendörstecknet av I klass av Finlands Lejons orden	FL C I SL K I FLO K I
9	Mannerheim Cross, 2nd Class, of the Order of the Cross of Liberty Vapaudenristin 2. luokan Mannerheimristi Frihetskorsets Mannerheimkors av 2. klass	- MR 2 MK 2
10	Cross of Liberty, 1st Class 1. luokan Vapaudenristi Frihetskorsets 1. klass	- VR 1 FrK 1
11	Commander of the Order of the White Rose of Finland Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun komentajamerkki Kommendörstecknet av Finlands Vita Ros’ orden	FWR C SVR K FVR K
12	Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun komentajamerkki Kommendörstecknet av Finlands Lejons orden	FL C SL K FLO K
13	Great Cross of Merit of the Finnish Sports Suomenliikuntakulttuurin ja urheilun suuri ansioristi Finlands idrottskulturs stora förtjänstkors	- SU s.ar Fl s. fk.
14	Finnish Olympic Cross of Merit, First Class Suomen Olympialaisen ansioristin 1. luokka Finlands Olympiska förtjänstkors av 1 klass	- O ar 1 O fk 1
15	Medal of Liberty, 1st Class with rosette, of the Order of the Cross of Liberty 1. luokan Vapaudenmitali ruusukenauhassa Frihetsmedaljens 1. klass med rosett på bandet	- Vm 1 rnk. Frm 1 mrb.
16	Medal of Merit in gold of the Order of the Cross of Liberty Vapaudenristin kultainen ansiomitali Frihetskorsets förtjänstmedalj i guld	- VR kult.Am FrK Fm g.
17	Cross of Mourning of the Order of the Cross of Liberty Vapaudenristin sururisti Frihetskorsets sorgekors	- VR surur. FrK srk.
18	Medal of Mourning of the Order of the Cross of Liberty Vapaudenristin surumitali Frihetskorsets sorgemedalj	- VR surum. FrK srm.
19	Cross of Liberty, 2nd Class, of the Order of the Cross of Liberty 2. luokan Vapaudenristi Frihetskorsets 2. klass	- VR 2 FrK 2
20	Cross of Liberty, 3rd Class, of the Order of the Cross of Liberty 3. luokan Vapaudenristi Frihetskorsets 3. klass	- VR 3 FrK 3
21	Cross of Liberty, 4th Class, of the Order of the Cross of Liberty, for war-time merits 4. luokan Vapaudenristi sodanajan ansioista Frihetskorsets 4. klass för krigstida förtjänster	- VR 4 FrK 4
22	Knight, First Class, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun I luokan ritarimerkki Riddartecknet av I klass av Finlands Vita Ros’ orden	FWR K I SVR R I FVR R I
23	Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland Suomen Leijonan Pro Finlandia-mitali Pro Finlandia-medaljen av Finlands Lejons orden	FL PF SL PF FLO PF
24	Badge of Merit of the Order of the White Rose of Finland Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun ansiomerkki Finlands Vita Ros’ tecken	- SVR am FVR T
25	Knight, First Class, of the Order of the Lion of Finland Suomen Leijonan I luokan ritarimerkki Riddartecknet av I klass av Finlands Lejons orden	FL K I SL R I FLO R I
26	Cross of Liberty, 4th Class, of the Order of the Cross of Liberty, for peace-time merits 4. luokan Vapaudenristi rauhanajan ansioista Frihetskorsets 4. klass för fredstida förtjänster	- VR 4 ra FrK 4 fr
27	Knight of the Order of the White Rose of Finland Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun ritarimerkki Riddartecknet av Finlands Vita Ros’ orden	FWR K SVR R FVR R
28	Knight of the Order of the Lion of Finland Suomen Leijonan ritarimerkki Riddartecknet av Finlands Lejons orden	FL K SL R FLO R
29	Cross of Merit of the Order of the White Rose of Finland Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun ansioristi Förtjänstkorset av Finlands Vita Ros’ orden	FWR Cm SVR Ar FVR Fk
30	Cross of Merit of the Order of the Lion of Finland Suomen Leijonan ansioristi Förtjänstkorset av Finlands Lejons orden	FL Cm SL Ar FLO Fk
31	Cross of Merit of the Red Cross of Finland Suomen Punaisen Ristin ansioristi Finlands Röda Kors’ förtjänstkors	- SPR ar FRK fk
32	Medal for Life-saving Hengenpelastus-mitali Livräddingsmedaljen	- HPM LRM
33	Finnish Olympic Cross of Merit, Second Class Suomen Olympialaisen ansioristin 2. luokka Finlands Olympiska förttjänstkors av 2. klass	- O ar 2 O fk 2
34	Medal of Liberty, 1st Class, of the Order of the Cross of Liberty 1. luokan Vapaudenmitali Frihetsmedaljens 1. klass	- VM 1 FrM 1
35	Medal of Merit, 1st Class, of the Cross of Liberty Vapaudenristin 1. luokan ansiomitali Frihetskorsets förtjänstmedalj av 1. klass	- VR Am 1 FrK Fm 1
36	Medal of Liberty, 2nd Class, of the Order of the Cross of Liberty 2. luokan Vapaudenmitali Frihetsmedaljens 2. klass	- VM 2 FrM 2
37	Medal of Merit, 2nd Class, of the Cross of Liberty Vapaudenristin 2. luokan ansiomitali Frihetskorsets förtjänstmedalj av 2. klass	- VR Am 2 FrK Fm 2
38	Memorial Medal with Rose of the War of Independence Vapaussodan muistomitali ruusuineen Frihetskrigets minnesmedalj med ros	- Vs. mm rk. Frk. mm mr
39	Medal, First Class with golden cross and clasp, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun I luokan mitali kultaristein ja solkineen Medalj av I klass med guldkors och spänne av Finlands Vita Ros’ orden	FWR M I gold clasp SVR M I kr sk. FVR M I gk msp.
40	Medal, First Class with clasp, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun I luokan mitali solkineen Medalj av I klass med spänne av Finlands Vita Ros’ orden	FWR M I clasp VRW M I sk. FVR M I msp.
41	Medal with clasp, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun mitali solkineen Medalj med spänne av Finlands Vita Ros’ orden	FWR M clasp SVR M sk. FVR M msp.
42	Memorial Medal of the War of Independence Vapaussodan muistomitali Frihetskrigets minnesmedalj	- Vs. mm Frk. mm
43	Memorial Medal of the war 1939-1940 (Winter War) Vuosien 1939 – 1940 sodan (talvisodan) muistomitali Minnesmedalj för deltagande i 1939-1940 års krig (vinterkriget)	- Ts. mm Vk. mm
44	Memorial Medal of the 1941-1945 war (Continuation War) Vuosien 1941 – 1945 sodan (jatkosodan) muistomitali Minnesmedalj för deltagande i 1941-1945 års krig (fortsättningskriget)	- Js. mm Fk. mm
45	Memorial Medal of the Mine Clearing Miinanraivausmitali Minröjningsmedaljen	- Mrm Mrm
46	First Class Medal of the Order of the White Rose of Finland with golden cross Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun I luokan mitali kultaristein Medalj av I klass med guldkors av Finlands Vita Ros’ orden	FWR M I gold SVR M I kr FVR M I gk
47	First Class Medal of the Order of the White Rose of Finland Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun I luokan mitali Medalj av I klass av Finlands Vita Ros’ orden	FWR M I SVR M I FVR M I
48	Medal of the Order of the White Rose of Finland Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun mitali Medalj av Finlands Vita Ros’ orden	FWR M SVR M FVR M
49	Medal for Military Merits Sotilasansiomitali Militärens förtjänstmedalj	- Sot. am Mil. fm
50	Medal of Merit, in gold, of the Red Cross of Finland Suomen Punaisen Ristin kultainen ansiomitali Finlands Röda Kors’ förtjänstmedalj i guld	- SPR kult. am FRK fm g.
51	Medal of Merit, in silver, of the Red Cross of Finland Suomen Punaisen Ristin hopeinen ansiomitali Finlands Röda Kors’ förtjänstmedalj i silver	- SPR hop. am FRK fm silv.
52	Pro Benignitate Humana -medal Mitali inhimillisestä auliudesta (Pro Benignitate Humana) Hederstecknet för mänsklig barmhärtighet (Pro Benignitate Humana)	- PBH PBH
53	Medal of Merit, in bronze, of the Red Cross of Finland Suomen Punaisen Ristin pronssinen ansiomitali Finlands Röda Kors’ förtjänstmedalj i brons	- SPR pr. am FRK fm br.
54	Finnish Olympic Medal of Merit Suomen Olympialainen ansiomitali Finlands Olympiska förtjänstmedalj	- O am O fm
55	Cross of Merit of the War Invalides Sotainvalidien ansioristi Krigsinvalidernas förtjänstkors	- Sotainv. ar Krinv. fk
56	Cross of Merit of the Police Poliisin ansioristi Polisens förtjänstkors	- P ar P fk
57	Cross of Merit of the Frontier Guards Rajavartiolaitoksen ansioristi Gränsbevakningsväsendets förtjänstkors	- RVL ar GBV fk
58	Cross of Merit of the Fire Defence (Fire Cross) Palotorjunnan ansiomerkki (paloristi) Brandvärnets förtjänstkors (brandkorset)	- PR BK
59	Cross of Merit, in gold, of the Finnish Sports Suomen liikuntakulttuurin ja urheilun kultainen ansioristi Finlands idrottskulturs förtjänstkors i guld	- SU kult. ar Fl fk g.
60	Cross of Merit, in silver, of the Finnish Sports Suomen liikuntakulttuurin ja urheilun ansioristi Finlands idrottskulturs förtjänstkors	- SU ar Fl fk
61	Medal of Merit, First Class with clasp, of the Civil Defence Väestönsuojelun 1. luokan ansiomitali solkineen Förtjänstmedaljen för befolkningsskyddsarbete av 1. klass med spänne	- Vss. am 1 sk. Bsk. fm 1 msp.
62	Medal of Merit, Second Class with clasp, of the Civil Defence Väestönsuojelun 2. luokan ansiomitali solkineen Förtjänstmedaljen för befolkningsskyddsarbete av 2. klass med spänne	- Vss. am 2 sk. Bsk. fm 2 msp.
63	Medal of Merit in silver with golden cross, of the Finnish Sports Suomen liikunta- kulttuurin ja urheilun ansiomitali kullatuin ristein Finlands idrottskulturs förtjänstmedalj med förgyllt kors	- SU am krk. Fl fm mgk.
64	Medal of Merit First Class, of the Civil Defence Väestönsuojelun 1. luokan ansiomitali Förtjänstmedaljen för befolkningsskyddsarbete av 1. klass	- Vss am 1 Bsk. fm 1
65	Medal of Merit in silver, of the Finnish Sports Suomen liikuntakulttuurin ja urheilun ansiomitali Finlands idrottskulturs förtjänstmedalj	- Su am Fl fm
66	Medal of Merit of the Frontier Guards Rajavartiolaitoksen ansiomitali Gränsbevakningsväsendets förtjänstmedalj	- RVL am GBV fm
67	Medal of Merit Second Class, of the Civil Defence Väestönsuojelun 2. luokan ansiomitali Förtjänstmedaljen för befolkningsskyddsarbete av 2. klass	- Vss. am 2 Bsk. fm 2
68	Medal of merit in bronze, of the Finnish Sports Suomen Urheilun pronssinen ansiomitali Finlands idrotts förtjänstmedalj i brons	- SU pr. am Fl fm br.
69	Cross of Merit, of the Prison Administration Vankeinhoidon ansioristi Fångvårdens förtjänstkors	- Vh. ar Fv. fk
70	Medal of merit with clasp of customs service Tullilaitoksen ansioristi soljen kera Tullverkets förtjänstkors med spänne	- Tulli ar sk. Tull fk msp.
71	Gold Medal of Merit with clasp of the Reserve Officers Association Suomen Reserviupseeriliiton kultainen ansiomitali solkineen Finlands Reservofficersförbunds förtjänstmedalj i guld med spänne	- RUL am sk. ROF fm msp.
72	Medal of Merit of the Association of Voluntary Defence Guilds Kilta-ansiomitali Försvarsgillenas förtjänstmedalj	- Kilta am FG fm
73	Medal of merit of customs service Tullilaitoksen ansioristi Tullverkets förtjänstkors	- Tulli ar Tull fk
74	Cross of merit with clasp of Reservists’ association Reserviläisliitto – Reservin Aliupseerien Liiton ansioristi solkineen Reservistförbundet – Reservunderofficersförbundets förtjänstkors med spänne	- RAUL ar sk. RuOF fk msp.
75	Medal of Merit with clasp of the Association of the Warrant Officers’ Päällystöliiton ansiomitali soljen kera Befälsförbundets förtjänstmedalj med spänne	- PL am sk. BF fm msp.
76	Gold Medal of Merit of the Reserve Officers Association Suomen Reserviupseeriliiton kultainen ansiomitali Finlands Reservofficers-örbunds förtjänstmedalj i  guld	- RUL am ROF fm
77	Cross of merit of Reservists’ association Reserviläisliitto – Reservin Aliupseerien Liiton ansioristi Reservistförbundet – Reservunderofficersförbundets förtjänstkors	- RAUL ar RuOF fk
78	Medal of Merit of the Association of the Warrant Officers Päällystöliiton ansiomitali Befälsförbundets förtjänstmedalj	- PL am BF fm
79	Medal of Merit of the Engineerin Officers’ Association Insinööriupseeriliiton ansiomitali Ingenjörofficersförbundets förtjänstmedalj	- IUL am IOF fm
80	Medal of Merit of the Cadet Corps Kadettikunnan ansiomitali Kadettkårens förtjänstmedalj	- KK am KK fm
81	The medal of merit of traffic safety branch Liikenneturvallisuus-alan ansiomitali Förtjänstmedalj för trafiksäkerhetsarbete	- Lt am Ts fm
82	The special medal of merit of work for working environment Työympäristötyön erityisansiomitali Specialförtjänstmedalj för arbetsmiljöarbete	- Tyt am Ama fm
83	Medal of Merit, in gold, of the Police Poliisin kullattu ansiomitali Polisens förgyllda förtjänstmedalj	- P am P fm
84	Medal of Merit of notor traffic branch Moottoriliikenteen ansiomitali Förtjänstmedalj för motorfordonstrafikarbete	- Ml am Mt fm

Memorial Crosses and Memorial Medals of the War of Independence, Winter War, and Continuation War and other Crosses of Merit and Medals of Merit of patriotic activity in chronological order.

Titles

Further information (in Finnish): Titles of honor in Finland

Although a republic, Finland has a tradition of awarding titles for distinguished citizens. The available titles are listed in the presidential decree on titles (381/2000). The titles are classified in 16 categories of precedence. The two highest titles are valtioneuvos/statsråd (literal translation English: “state counsellor”) and vuorineuvos/bergsråd (literal translation English: “mountain counsellor”). The former is usually awarded to most distinguished, retired politicians, while the latter is meant for the CEOs of the largest Finnish companies. Less distinguished titles span different walks of life. Curiosities include liikenneneuvos (English: traffic counsellor), kotiseutuneuvos (English: home district counsellor) and nuorisoasiainneuvos (English: youth affairs counsellor). In total, there are about 100 different titles. A Finnish title is purely honorary, causing no responsibilities and giving no privileges. All Finnish titles are non-hereditary.

Typically, the titles are awarded by the president. There are some exceptions, however. The chief judge of a district court may award the title of herastuomari (English: judge of the county) to a lay judge with a long service. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the Finnish Orthodox Church, on the other hand, have the right to award the titles of director cantus and director musices. Yearly, the president awards over 200 titles on the advice of the titles' board. The awards take place twice a year: in March and in September.

In addition to honorary titles awarded by the President, certain honorary titles are awarded ex officio to state civil servants in leading positions. For example, the managers or section chiefs of several state research institutes automatically hold the title of professori ("professor"), if they are qualified for tenured faculty position in a university.

A stamp tax is paid for a title. The tax varies with the rank of the title and can be quite substantial for the higher titles. Customarily the organization that proposes the title pays the tax.

See also

• Order of the Cross of Liberty
• Order of the White Rose of Finland
• Order of the Lion of Finland
• List of honours of Finland awarded to heads of state and royalty

Further reading

• Tiainen, Jani (2010). Suomen kunniamerkit / The orders, decorations, and medals of Finland (in Finnish and English). Tampere: Apali. ISBN 978-952-5877-03-8.
• A guide to the orders and decorations of Finland. Helsinki: Edita. 2017. ISBN 978-951-37-7191-1.
• Suomen ritarikunnat 100 vuotta / Finlands ordnar 100 år / Finnish orders of merit: 100 years (in Finnish, Swedish, and English). Helsinki: National Archives of Finland. 2018. ISBN 978-952-7323-01-4.

External links

• The Orders of the White Rose of Finland and the Lion of Finland