Christmas is the most important annual holiday in Finland. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, known in Finland as St. Stephen’s Day, are all public holidays in Finland. Travellers to Finland are sometimes surprised at how quiet most cities become during Christmas, as the holiday is usually spent at home with family.
Origins of Christmas in Finland
The history of Christmas in Finland dates back to pre-Christian times. Vikings in the Nordic countries celebrated the winter solstice on the 21st of December by eating and drinking, exchanging gifts, sacrificing to their gods and playing games. Christmas in Finland also originates from a pagan festival called kekri that was celebrated every November until the arrival of Christianity to Finland in the 12th century, when old pagan traditions were combined with Christian Christmas celebrations.
Traditional Finnish Christmas Decorations
Most homes in Finland are decorated with a Christmas tree during the holiday season. The tree, always a spruce, is usually brought in and decorated on the night of the 23rd or on the morning of the 24th of December. A golden or silver star is placed at the top of the tree, and the tree is decorated with electric candles, colourful glass balls, golden and silver ribbons and ornaments that have sometimes been kept in the family for several generations. Traditional Finnish Christmas decorations used to be made of straw, and these are still popular in many homes. Plastic Christmas trees are very rare in Finland and a real spruce tree is considered to be the only true Christmas tree.
Homes are also decorated with candles, lights, ornaments and festive textiles and tablecloths. Finnish Christmas decorations are generally low-key and traditional, and “overdoing” decorations and lights is frowned upon. Finns also decorate their homes for Christmas with flowers, such as hyacinths and poinsettias, and decorative flower arrangements are popular Christmas gifts.
Christmas Eve in Finland
Finnish Christmas celebrations focus on Christmas Eve. At noon on the 24th of December, Christmas Peace is declared from Turku, the old capital of Finland. This 13th century tradition defines the 20 days starting from midday on the 24th as a period of Christmas Peace that must honoured with peaceful and quiet celebrations. Many Finns visit the local graveyard on Christmas Eve and light candles on the graves of their loved ones. Although Finland is a fairly secular society, many Finns go to church on Christmas Eve or early on the morning of Christmas Day.
The sauna is an important Finnish tradition and most Finns go to the sauna in the early evening on Christmas Eve. In the evening, families get together for a Christmas dinner. A traditional Finnish Christmas dinner includes oven-baked ham, served with oven-baked vegetable dishes made with carrots, rutabaga (Swedish turnip) or potatoes. Beetroot salad, different types of pates and fish such as smoked salmon or pickled herring can accompany the main dishes. Finnish Christmas sweets include gingerbread, several types of shortbread and biscuits, and Christmas pastries filled with prune conserve or jam.
For children, the arrival of Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, is the highlight of Christmas Eve. According to Finnish folklore Santa Claus (Joulupukki in Finnish) lives in the Finnish Lapland in the Ear Mountain (Korvatunturi), on the Finnish-Russian border. From his headquarters Santa can hear what kids around the world are up to, and he then travels with his reindeers around the world on Christmas Eve, handing out presents.
As Christmas is mainly a family celebration in Finland, Christmas Day is usually spent at home with the closest family, while St. Stephen’s Day is the day for visiting relatives and friends.
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