Finnish Christmas
Christmas is probably the Finns' most important festive period, regarded widely as a family event. Christmas in Finland is celebrated over three days, with the main festivities taking place on Christmas Eve (December 24), when Finns eat Christmas dinner and gifts are distributed. Christmas Day is a time of family peace and quiet, while on Boxing Day people visit friends.
But first, the festive season preceding Christmas is a time of joyful preparation. The start of Advent marks the season of Christmas parties in homes, schools and at work. ‘Glögi', the traditional mulled wine drunk at parties, is another pre-Christmas tradition.
The pre-Christmas celebrations of Swedish-speaking Finns culminate in the Lucia festival, which has its origins in Sweden. Lucia day is celebrated on December 13 when the Lucia maiden, selected these days by Finland's main Swedish-language newspaper, Hufvudstadsbladet, makes her appearance at the head of a procession on the steps of Helsinki's Lutheran Cathedral.
In accordance with ancient tradition, the town clerk of the city of Turku in southwest Finland publicly proclaims the beginning of Christmas peace at noon on Christmas Eve. The message is broadcast to the entire nation on radio and television. The tradition of announcing the Christmas peace is an old Nordic custom dating from the Middle Ages. In pre-Christian times there were as many as 27 different 'times of peace' in the course of a year, including times dedicated for women, court sessions and harvesting. To this day, the sentiment of peace is maintained in the Finnish greeting "Rauhallista Joulua” - Peaceful Christmas.
The Christmas Eve dinner is the principal traditional meal of the year. Families with children very often have their meal before the ritual arrival of Santa Claus, and adults may wait patiently to settle down and eat later in the evening. The centrepiece of the meal is the Christmas ham. Swede and potato casseroles have been part of traditional Christmas fare in western Finland since the 18th century. The meal once included stockfish and rice porridge, but today the various dishes may be served over several days. For example, rice porridge is often served at lunchtime on Christmas Eve. Culinary traditions differ between eastern and western Finland. Western Finnish traditions have been influenced by Sweden and eastern ones by the region of Karelia.
Growing prosperity has led to changes in traditional Finnish Christmas fare. Ham may be replaced by turkey, and gravlax (salted salmon), pickled herring, roe, vegetable salads and cold cuts are often served as hors d'oeuvres.
Pastries, too, including ginger snaps and prune-filled puff pastry pies are served at Christmas. Making a gingerbread house is part of Christmas preparations in families with children.
The highlight of Christmas in families with children is undoubtedly the arrival of Santa Claus. Finnish legend has it that Santa, his wife and a team of elves live on Korvatunturi Fell in Finnish Lapland. You can visit him in his workshop near Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle in Lapland at any time of the year.
In another touching custom, Finns remember deceased friends and relatives on Christmas Eve by placing lighted candles on their graves. The rows of candles on the graves of soldiers lost in the war are a particularly impressive and moving sight in the dark winter's night. Naturally, visiting church is another Christmas tradition. Midnight services on Christmas Eve and early-morning services on Christmas Day are the most popular.
Christmas Day in Finland is a quiet occasion when family and relations get together. Boxing Day is more public. Traditionally, Boxing Day was when the young people of the family were taken out for a sleigh ride. The tradition lives on in rural areas.
|
|
|