Europäische Weihnacht – in Vielfalt geeint - Sutter GmbH & Co. KG

Older Fins are of the opinion that in fact, Christmas
festivities in Finland are starting sooner by the year.
The truth is that since the 20s of the past century
the custom of Pikkojoulu, endearingly called “small
Christmas festivities”, which is to help bridge the
long period until December 24, has been rampant.
Where nature creates such darkness, there is an even
greater need for artificial lighting. As a result, the
tradition of Christmas illumination on the streets
and squares of Finland runs particularly deep. For
example, the coastal city of Pietarsaari has seen the
Storgatan Alley be turned into a sea of lights year in,
year out since 1840 already.
That the Nikolaus day in Finland is not a real pre-
Christmas highlight has a political background. By
chance, the Finnish Independence Day equally falls
on December 6: On this day in 1917, the Finnish
parliament declared the country’s independence.
Things are more ceremonial on December 13, the day
of Saint LUCIA, a custom adopted during the early
20s of the 19th century from jSweden.
It is not long after this that Joulupukki, the Finnish
Father Christmas, who spends the summer months
at his domicile in Lapland and is an extremely innocently
trusting man, sets out. Since Finnish radio
committed a minor indiscretion in 1927, every child
in Finland knows just where Joulupukki is at home,
to wit in the Korvatunturi mountain in East Lapland,
far away from the cities, in a spacious cave.
Although the immediate entrance to this cave has not
been found to this day in spite of zealous efforts, there
is a theory about why Santa settled in this particular
spot. Korva is the Finnish word for “ear” and in fact,
the mountain is shaped like an ear. This has the advantage
that Joulupukki can hear the children’s
Christmas wishes all around the world particularly
well, even if they are only whispered: The ear-shaped
mountain walls reinforce the sound and make all
wishes unmistakable. Will they be fulfilled? This clearly
depends, just like anywhere else in the world, on
whether the children behaved well throughout the
year. This is where the innocent trust of Joulupukki
comes in. When entering the house he always asks the
same question: “Are there any good children in the
house?” And time and time again, he receives the
Finnland/Finland
same response: “Yessss!” Apparently, the good Finnish
Father Christmas rarely doubts the accuracy of this
reply. Even more so: He even allows the children to
help him unload and distribute the gifts – provided
that they put on little red hats beforehand.
In Finland, the actual Christmas festivities have
commenced for many years now on a precise day:
December 24, 12:00 noon. This is when the balcony
of the Dome in Turku, the former capital, pronounces
peace at Christmas – a tradition which has been in
place for 500 years and which in the past even held
legal consequences, as crimes committed during these
times of peace were punished more severely. Equally,
for a long time now, Christmas has been a time
when Fins commemorate relatives passed away. On
Christmas Eve, once darkness has fallen, families
walk to the cemetery and adorn the tombs with
wreaths, branches of fir and many candles. During
the night of December 25 a Finnish cemetery is an
unforgettable sight, with its thousands of lights
glowing in the snow!
After returning from the cold cemetery an obligatory
visit to the sauna tends to be an even greater delight.
Since the culinary delights, such as traditional swede
soufflé or Rosolli salad were prepared days before, the
remaining festive season can be enjoyed in great
relaxation, even if on the 1st day of Christmas a visit
to church is on the agenda.
Finland has a particularity when it comes to decorating
the Christmas tree. Similar to jDenmark, many
colourful pendants are put up between the twigs.
However, the Fins do not decorate their trees exclusively
with small blue and white flags of their country,
but with many colourful flags from all around the
world. This custom is to evoke friendship among the
nations.
On Tapaninpäivä, or St. Stephen’s Day on December
26, one tends to invite friends or relatives and
meet for a merry get-together during a Tapani dance
at restaurants, as even a quiet peaceful worship has
to end at some point. If anything, the occasional
Christmas carol is belted out, for example one of the
Fem julsånger by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius
(*1865 †1957).
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