by Mike Gagnon

Created on: December 03, 2006   Last Updated: May 09, 2007

Donald Duck Comics Banned?

Despite popular belief the truth is that Donald Duck comics have never been banned. The story of Donald Duck comics being banned in Finland in the 1970's because the duck didn't wear pants and was not married to Daisy is an urban legend which began in the fall of 1977.

In the 1970's educators and politicians in Finland were actually quite progressive in thinking when compared to our North American governments, perhaps even more so than today. At the time the Finish government invested large amounts of money to supply reading material to schools and libraries for various age levels, especially young readers.

As a part of their young reading initiative the government supplied Donald Duck comics to the public in an effort to promote literacy from an early age. In the fall of 1977 the government found itself over budget and strapped for cash. Many parents groups were also voicing concern over a lack of emphasis on physical fitness and outdoor activities for youth and youth programs. In a meeting held in Helsinki regarding youth affairs a candidate for Finland's liberal party, Markku Holopainen, proposed that the country save money and promote fitness by replacing the Donald Duck comics it was providing to youth with sports magazines, which were cheaper at the time. The proposition was heartily approved by all of those in attendance.

The finish government was not banning Donald Duck comics; they just weren't paying anymore for the public to have them.

A year later when Holopainen was running for election his rivals used the removal of Donald Duck from the public system as a weapon against him. The minister of youth affairs at the time did not come to his rescue and set the record straight because he was a political rival. Embarrassed and ignored by the media Holopainen's reputation was trashed and he had very low voter support in the election.

American reporters in Europe were humored by the exaggerated stories and reported the news back home. The story took off like wild fire in the U.S. and grew to include that the Finish did not approve of Donald's unmarried status as well as his not wearing pants. The snowballing story became so popular that is still persists as an urban legend today, readily spread at gatherings, on the internet, in trivia games and in print.

The news was so popular it even traveled back overseas and was picked up by European tabloids (even Finish ones) and was reported all over Europe, told in tabloid newspaper stories that were almost entirely untrue.

The truth of the matter is that Finland loves their Donald Duck without pants on, just like the rest of the world. In reality Finish television shows more Walt Disney programming than almost any other country.

Which goes to show, don't always believe what you hear, or read.

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