Words by Grace West
Every October 13th, Finland proudly celebrates what didn’t go according to plan. This is the country’s National Day for Failure–a day that examines how falling on your face could actually just be the first step toward moving forward.
The unique celebration goes back to 2010, when students in the entrepreneurship society at Aalto University in Espoo, Finland noticed that Finnish culture leaned towards risk-aversion and the fear of inadequacy. Many people in business and creative fields were hesitant to try new things out of trepidation that they might fail or let others down. These students wanted to change that mindset. They were tired of letting the potential for failure hold back their potential.
In response, the students launched the first ever National Day of Failure. What started as a small university initiative turned into something that caught national attention. They hosted public talks, invited successful business leaders, artists, and students to share stories of their own failures and the lessons they learned from them. The goal was simple: to make failure something less frightening and more familiar.
To celebrate this unique occasion, major university towns in Finland continue to host seminars, talks, and workshops to share stories about their missteps and what they have learned as a result. Others show their “fail photos” or stories via social media by using the hashtag #dayoffailure. Some even use this day to take a stab at something new. Even if failure is likely, the point of the National Day of Failure is not success but what you can learn from getting started in the first place.
The embrace of the Day of Failure is a nod to Finland’s deep self-awareness. The country is often ranked at the top of the happiest nations list, but this day shows that happiness isn’t rooted in constant positivity, and rather in balance, honesty, and resilience. This same value shows up in other areas of Finnish life too. From an early age, students have access to strong mental health education in schools and conversations about well-being. The Day of Failure is a natural progression, where growth and happiness is tied to vulnerability.
What began as a small Finnish initiative has eventually gained global attention, inspiring similar events and conversations in countries like France and India. A day like this shows that it’s ok to err, in fact, it might be one of the most human things of all. And that, folks, is something worth celebrating.
