Editing Maamme (section)

== Status and usage ==
There is no law regarding an official national anthem in Finland, in the way the [[Coat of arms of Finland|coat of arms]] and [[flag of Finland]] are legally defined. Instead, its position has been established gradually by convention over the years.<ref name="TUGLAS" /> In 2018, "Maamme" was described by the [[Finnish Government|Government of Finland]] as the "Finnish national anthem".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Centenary year of independence encourages Finns to fly the flag |url=https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/1410869/itsenaisyyden-juhlavuosi-kannusti-suomalaisia-liputtamaan |access-date=2022-12-17 |website=Valtioneuvosto |language=en-US}}</ref>

Even though "Maamme" has become established as the ''de facto'' anthem, its status has still been debated from time to time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-05-28 |title=National Coalition Party proposes new national anthem |url=https://yle.fi/a/3-8914120 |access-date=2022-12-17 |website=News |language=en}}</ref> It has been suggested that the status of "Maamme" as the national anthem should be legalised. For example, opposing legislative initiatives were made in 2003 by the [[Parliament of Finland|Finnish Parliament]] to make "Maamme" and the [[Finlandia hymn|Finlandia Hymn]] the official national anthem.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LA 158/2003: Laki Suomen kansallislaulusta {{!}} KAMU |url=https://kansanmuisti.fi/document/la-158-2003/ |access-date=2022-12-17 |website=Kansan muisti}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=LA 166/2003: Laki Suomen kansallislaulusta {{!}} KAMU |url=https://kansanmuisti.fi/document/la-166-2003/ |access-date=2022-12-17 |website=Kansan muisti}}</ref>  In 2014, there was a citizens' initiative about choosing the [[Finlandia hymn|Finlandia Hymn]] as the national anthem,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-02-21 |title=Finlandia kansallislauluksi? – Kansalaisaloite hämmentää Sibeliuksen sukua - Sibelius - Kulttuuri - Helsingin Sanomat |url=http://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/a1305906113312 |access-date=2022-12-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221113234/http://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/a1305906113312 |archive-date=2016-02-21 }}</ref> and in 2016 members of the [[National Coalition Party]] began campaigning to stop using "Maamme" in favour of the Finlandia Hymn, however, opinions were not unanimous in the party,<ref>{{Cite web |last=YLE |title=National Coalition Party proposes new national anthem |date=28 May 2016 |url=https://yle.fi/a/3-8914120 |access-date=17 December 2022 |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207185637/https://yle.fi/a/3-8914120 |url-status=live }}</ref> and the campaign fell short of its goal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-06 |title=Why Finns don't want to change their national anthem |url=https://yle.fi/a/3-10540671 |access-date=2022-12-17 |website=News |language=en}}</ref>

Despite the lack of official status, in usage, "Maamme" fills the function of a national anthem in the same way as in many other countries. For example, it is played during state visits,<ref>{{cite web |last=Öhberg  |first=Tony |date=3 March 2015 |title=PICTURES: King Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden Arrive at the Presidential Palace |url=https://finlandtoday.fi/pictures-king-gustaf-and-queen-silvia-of-sweden-arrive-at-the-presidential-palace/ |access-date=2022-12-17 |website=Finland Today {{!}} News in English {{!}} finlandtoday.fi |language=en-US}}</ref> and used to represent Finland at [[International sport|international sporting fixtures]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baugh |first=Peter |title=20 Avalanche observations: Artturi Lehkonen's sauna song, Finnish national anthem, more |url=https://theathletic.com/3770865/2022/11/08/avalanche-observations-nhl-global-series/ |access-date=2022-12-17 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}</ref>