What you always wanted to know of the Finnish Christmas traditions
As we all know, Santa Claus comes from Finland and plays therefore a big role in Finnish Christmas celebrations. But what else happens in Finland on Christmas time - on this celebration that is also known as the festival of light?
Christmas - the festival of light
In Finland the so called Christmas time starts with the first Advent, which is always the Sunday four weeks before Christman eve. Since this is the official "opening" of the Christmas time, Christmas carols start to be played around the towns, homes and public spaces are decorated by Christmas decorations and Christmas lights and candles. The Autumn is rather dark in Finland and during December the days are the shortest. Therefore various types of Christmas lights and especially candles are an essential part of the Christmas time, as they bring hope, warmness and light to the dark nights of December. Christmas is in fact considered as the festival of light in Finland. When passing by the houses of Finnish families, one can see a candle windowsill being lit on the first Advent and the amount of candles increases as the Christmas eve is getting closer.
Christmas calendars, pre-Christmas parties and other celebrations
The first Advent is also time for giving and receiving Christmas calendars and organising very popular "pre-Christmas" parties. Every workplace, society, sports club and circle of friends has their own pre-Christmas party and in addition to preparing for the Christmas and searching for the Christmas presents, these parties keep Finnsh very busy in December.
After the first Advent weekend the next important holiday is the Finnish Independence Day, which is on the 6th of December. Santa Lucia's day is observed on December 13th. This originally Swedish celebration is also celebrated in Finland. Lucia was originally a Sicilian maid who defied her father by refusing to marry the man he had chosen for her. Lucia suffered a martyr's death. In Helsinki there is a beautiful Christmas procession in honour of Lucia in which Lucia with her crown of candles and white dress is chosen every year and she goes around the city bringing light and happiness to elderly homes, hospitals and schools.
The Finnish Santa Claus can hear the wishes of all the children in the world
According to the Finnish legend Santa Claus lives in Korvatunturi ("ear fell") which is
far in the north. Korvatunturi is such a secret place that only Santa Claus, his wife and a hundred elves are allowed there. The top of the fell is in 483 meters and its ears work like satellites picking up the wishes of children around the world. Finally at the Christmas Eve he glides lightly across the snow in his sleigh driven by prancing reindeer with Rudolph in the lead and bringing gifts to children.
Christmas eve, the culmination of the Christmas time
Christmas eve, December 24th, is the most important day of the Christmas season. The so called Christmas peace is declared at noon in Turku, the oldest city in Finland. More or less every Finnish family is at that time either in Turku to hear it on the spot or gathered in front of their TVs, as the declaration is broadcasted to every Finnish home. This declaration officially starts the celebration of the Christmas. All the shops are closed after that and people gather to their homes with their families. Even crimes commited during the Christmas time shall receive double the punishments than normally.
If not before, the Christmas tree is brought in on Christmas Eve and usually decorated by the children. The tree is decorated with candles, stars, miniature elves, sparkly things and a star on the top of the tree. Besides the Christmas tree decorations the day includes sauna, and preparation of the Christmas dishes.
Before the Christmas meal many people go to visit the graveyard and pay their respects to their loved ones who have passed away. When visiting Finnish graveyeards on Christmas eve, one can see thousands and thousands of candles lighting up the darkening night of the Christmas eve. Also Christmas church is quite common. Finnish love heir Christmas carols and they are sung in the churches before and during Christmas.
After all the hassle of the day, finally in the early evening the time comes when the Finns finally gather around a big table with their families and enjoy the long awaited Christmas meal. The meal includes traditional delicacies like herring, salmon, roe, and casseroles of potato, carrot and swede. The main important thing of the table is always a big Christmas ham.
The highlight of the evening is when Santa knocks on the door. His words are always the same "are there any good children here"? Of course there always are and what is different comparing to many other countries is that, the Santa actually comes in to meet the children and spends some time with the family. After Santa Claus the evening is spent by opening presents and spending time together. Staying up late and eating around the clock are also part of the Christmas eve traditions.
Typically also Christmas day is spent with family and relaxing. If the weather is good outdoor activities like cross-country skiing, or ice-skating are popular. It is most often not until the Boxing Day (26.12) that visits are made to friends and other relatives.
Christmas time comes to an end after New Year. Decorations are collected and put away for next year. The awaiting of summer can begin.
More about Finnish Christmas and Christmas related things can be read from: