Christmas traditions in Finland are cantered on the home and family. The sense of warmth of the family home and the merriment of the season are accentuated amidst the harsh reality of a far north winter.
Finland is the home of Santa, and every Finnish child knows that Santa lives on the Mountain of Korvatunturi in the town of Savukoski. This town is in the northern section of Finland called Lapland. There are many, many reindeer in Lapland and, after all, why wouldn’t Santa live where his reindeer are?
By Christmas Eve morning, the children are all excited for they know that Finland is the first country on the list of Santa’s stops and he stops there on Christmas Eve with gifts for every one.
Finnish families celebrate St. Lucia’s Day, as do most of the Scandinavian countries. The celebration of Christmas occurs from December 24th to the 26th. Several weeks beforehand, during the advent season, homes are prepared, cookies are baked, and decorations are made ready.
Christmas eve breakfast is rice pudding. Thick and creamy, it is served hot and topped with cinnamon, sugar and other spices. Papa and the children will go and get the tree. With a bit of shopping left to be done, Mama heads to the market early for all the stores will close at noon.
Christmas traditions in Finland have become known to over 140 countries largely because of a traditional event that has occurred every year, except one, since the mid 1300’s.
In the city of Turku, in southern Finland, the people gather just before noon. After the Turku Cathedral Bell strikes twelve, the Declaration of Christmas Peace is read.
Another Christmas tradition in this frozen country is after a light Christmas Eve lunch people head out to take the sauna bath.
Dinner, of course, is a sumptuous feast. There is ham or pork roast, casseroles with carrots and rice, or rutabaga. Several kinds of fish including herring and cod, lots of whole grain breads, prune tarts, and berry pudding. The holiday drink is glogg, which is a mulled wine.
About 5 or 6 o’clock, families go to the cemeteries to leave candles on the graves of loved ones who won’t be there to celebrate Christmas any longer. Thousands of flickering light, reflecting against the snow and trees create a memorable scene.
Later in the evening there is a knocking at the door, Joulupukki Santa has arrived. unfortunately papa misses his arrival because he had to go do the evening chores. Joulupukki boldly asks,” Are there any good children in the house?”
Of course there always are and Santa never misses handing out presents. The children love to sing Joulupukki Laula or Peteir Punakuono (Rudolph) or other such songs to him, before he leaves to visit the rest of the world.
Christmas day except for morning services is strictly a stay at home family day and very quiet. However, everyone visits friends and family on the 26th.
Merry Christmas – Hyvaa Joulua
