The tight game was decided in overtime, with Konsta Helenius scoring the winning goal for Finland to make it 0-1. Even though it was midnight in Finland, very few people could bring themselves to sleep. Out of a population of about six million, usually about a third, or 2 million people, follow especially the important matches. The whole of Finland exploded when Helenius put the puck in the net. After that, the X channel was also filled with shouts of TORILLE, but does anyone other than Finnish ice hockey followers know what it means?

The phrase stems from the sentence "Torilla tavataan" (See you at the market square), and in Finland, it means that Finnish ice hockey has likely won something, or is about to win something soon. In other words, this shout encourages people to go outside and celebrate together. The phrase TORILLE can therefore be used before or after an important game. From ice hockey, the expression has also spread to other sports, but it is a universal Finnish phrase used whenever Finland does well in some sport or field. Primarily, however, it refers to the success of the Finnish national ice hockey team Leijonat in international tournaments. Just like yesterday, for example, when Leijonat won gold in Switzerland.

In addition to just the word TORILLE, you usually see a lot of different photos or videos of celebrating Finns in the same context. One of the most legendary photos is of a Finnish man with a can and a flag (taked by Sami Kero). The word "TORILLE" literally means that now people are going together to celebrate the victory at Helsinki's Market Square (Kauppatori). The Market Square is Helsinki’s most international and well-known square. It is located in the capital of Finland, right in the heart of downtown Helsinki.

After Finland won its first World Championship gold medal in 1995, celebrating at the Market Square became a tradition. If and when the Leijonat have won something, people rush to Helsinki's Market Square to celebrate together, even in the middle of the night. This has also happened in the dead of winter, for example, after winning the World Junior Championship gold, or when Finland won Olympic gold in 2022. People go TORILLE as soon as the match ends, and they return there again when the team arrives in Finland.

The centerpiece of the celebration is the Havis Amanda statue, located at Helsinki's Market Square. The statue is a fountain that is currently 120 years old, featuring a figure representing a naked woman. Celebrators usually climb on top of the statue and swim in the fountain. However, because the statue was not built for partying, the City of Helsinki began protecting it in 2023. A thick barrier made of boards and steel frames is built around it to prevent celebrating on top of the statue and swimming in the pool. Still, people gather around it and nearby.

Last night, many Finns were at the square. Today, the Leijonat fly back to Finland in the afternoon, and the official square celebrations will be held starting at 18:00. The lively program will surely be concluded with a sing-along of "FINLANDIA," which was composed by Jean Sibelius and is perhaps Finland's most famous song.

Happy congratulations to our beloved homeland for the new gold!