tähistama

Tähistama is a Finnish verb that means to celebrate, commemorate, or mark an occasion. It conveys the idea of recognizing something as significant through actions, ceremonies, or rituals. The usage covers holidays, anniversaries, public events, and personal milestones, and the object is typically in the partitive form when referring to the thing being celebrated (for example itsenäisyyspäivää tähistetään, “Independence Day is celebrated”).

In ordinary and formal contexts, tähistama is used to describe public observances as well as personal celebrations. It can appear in active voice, as in “me tähistämme syntymäpäivää” (we celebrate a birthday), and in passive or impersonal constructions such as “itsenäisyyspäivää juhlitaan” or “itsenäisyyspäivää tähistetään.” The verb is common in media, education, and official discourse when emphasizing the significance and honoring aspect of an event.

Nuances and related terms: tähistama is often regarded as implying a deliberate marking of significance, sometimes with ceremony or public attention. It is closely related to synonyms like juhlia (to celebrate, often with a party), muistella (to recall or remember, more personal), and kunnioittaa (to honor). The noun tähistys denotes the act or process of marking or commemorating, and related adjectives describe events that are being commemorated or celebrated.

Overall, tähistama denotes giving significance to an occasion through celebration or commemoration, spanning both public ceremonies and personal milestones.