Finnish Christmas traditions

Helsinki, -9 degrees

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All major traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness ... the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.

Sometimes I feel too lucky. On my tram ride home from work, I passed by the biggest and most traditional Christmas market in town, the St. Thomas market that decorates our main square, the Senate Square. It looked story-like with its red small cottages and vendors, and atmospheric Christmas lights. Recently, as my Christmas calendar this year, I asked you readers for blog post suggestions for December and one of you suggested that I would write about my favorite Christmas traditions. I immediately knew what I wanted to write about, since there's one online Christmas Advent calendar this year that presents Finnish Christmas traditions better than all the rest!

Joskus tunnen itseni niin onnekkaaksi koska saan asua Helsingissä. Tänään ratikkamatkalla töistä kotiin ohitin Tuomaan markkinat. Tunsin olevani osaa satua, koska Senaatintori pienine myyjämökkeineen ja jouluvaloineen oli niin viehättävä! Vähän aikaa sitten pyysin blogikirjoitusideoita teiltä lukijoilta, ja yksi teistä ehdotti että kirjoittaisin suosikkijouluperinteistäni. Tiesin heti mistä halusin kirjoittaa, koska nyt joulukuussa yksi nettijoulukalenteri on ehdottomasti ollut ylitse muiden, varsinkin mitä tulee jouluperinteiden esittelemiseen. 

That's published by the Finland Promotion Board and produced by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs/ the Department for Communications and Culture. You'll find it here!

Tämä kyseinen joulukalenteri on UM:n tuottama. Löydät sen täältä!

This visually stunning calendar brings to life all the Christmas traditions that I love! I love how my city is beautifully illustrated on the Finnish map, don't you think?

Tämä visuaalisesti valloittava joulukalenteri kertoo minulle rakkaista jouluperinteistä. Mielestäni Helsinki on upeasti piirretty Suomen kartalle, eikö vain?

Of course, it's been possible to open only nine hatches until today since it's the 9th of December. However, I thought I would pick some of my favorites among the traditions that have already been presented in the calendar, and share them with you in this blog post.

Tähän asti on ollut mahdollista avata tietysti ainoastaan yhdeksän luukkua. Ajattelin kuitenkin näistä luukuista valita ne, jotka edustavat suosikkiperinteitäni ja esitellä niitä tässä blogikirjoituksessa.

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I can't imagine the Christmas holidays without Christmas carols. This Friday I'm heading to watch the St. Lucia celebrations, which include a concert in our Cathedral that is always completed with some beautiful Christmas carols.

En voisi kuvitella joulua ilman joululauluja. Perjantaina olen menossa Lucia-neidon kruunujaisiin, jossa joululaulut ovat keskiössä. 

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Christmas lights are the icing on the cake during this holiday season! Right now, our home is decorated with tons of candles and midwinter darkness is nowhere to be found!

Jouluvalot kuuluvat myös oleellisena osana joulun odotusaikaan! Tällä hetkellä meidän kotona on esillä kymmenittäin kynttilöitä ja lyhtyjä!

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During the Christmas season, I hardly drink anything else than our glögi, haha! You might think that's strange, but only until you've had a taste of this delicious drink that is filled with Christmas flavors!

Olen myös hulluna glögiin, ja joulukuussa suosin glögiä kahvin ja teen sijaan - en yksinkertaisesti saa siitä tarpeekseni!

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Last but not least, the scent of gingerbread belongs to the Christmas season. I even belong to the naughty ones that eat some of the dough, even if you're not supposed to. But the inner child in me is later happy, even though my tummy might not be.

Viimeisenä muttei vähäisimpänä joulupipareiden tuoksu kuuluu jouluun! Olen jopa niin tuhma, että syön piparkakkutaikinaa vaikka tiedän ettei vatsani pidä siitä. Sisäinen lapseni tykkää kuitenkin siitä.

Have a look at this wonderful Christmas Advent calendar and feel the true Finnish Christmas spirit!

Suosittelen lämpimästi tätä joulukalenteria, joka siivittää ainakin minut joulutunnelmaan!


What's your opinion?

  1. since i live in a mixed cultures kind of family to me christmas is even funnier..
    but i can't five up the Panettone tradition.



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    1. How interesting! What do you eat during Christmas?

      xxx
      E

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  2. I love that you are so excited for the holidays! It really is an amazing time of year. Gingerbread definitely smells delicious :)
    the-creationofbeauty.blogspot.com

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  3. Hi Elisabeth, this was such a beautifully enlightening post, I loved hearing more about how Christmas is celebrated there....I loved reading your fashionable insight on my last post, Thank you :)

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  4. The important thing is they should be part of our daily lives...... TOTALLY AGREE!!!!!
    Lovely post doll!

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  5. Hi Elisabeth, you have a very nice blog! , I am your new follower.on gfc # 230, also on bloglovin and instagram ;o)
    You look very beautiful. Love your style! Will be glad if you visit my blog.
    Olga from
    www.impromp-two.blogspot.com

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  6. Great Post!!! Love it :)

    big Hugs

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  7. my favourite traditions from your list are Christmas lights and gingerbreads (I'm not the biggest fan of glögi. I do drink the non-alcoholic one sometimes but not the one with alcohol, it's way too strong for me). anyway, it's so cool that Christmas is soon here! we will definitely bake some gingerbreads (I have already bought the necessary goodies) but we still must find some presents too!

    Maiken,
    Maikeni blogi - part of me

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    1. Oh, have you tasted glögi here? The most interesting one I've had this year was made out of apple juice. I rarely drink the one with alcohol, if so, then with red wine, but most often I drink the non-alcoholic ones :)

      xxx
      E

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