Santa's Village

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Pre-Christmas traditions

Sayings
Like many other annual tasks and holidays, Christmas time was formerly divided into periods according to the names in the calendar. Many of these old sayings are topical even today.

Using these sayings as a guideline, we may divide the Christmas season in four parts: the start of the season, preparations for Christmas, the celebration of Christmas, and ending Christmas

Advent
At the darkest time of the year, four weeks before Christmas, the waiting for the big celebration begins: Advent. For a century now, the "Hosianna" hymn has been sung in Finnish churches on the first Advent Sunday.

The Advent tradition involves the lighting of a candle on each of the four Advent Sundays. On the first Advent Sunday only one candle of four is lit, on the second Sunday the first one and another one, on the third Sunday the two first ones and a third one, and on the last Sunday of Advent all four candles, all of different length, are lit. Thus the light of Christmas becomes stronger as the celebration drawn closer. The first candle is dedicated to the waiting for Christmas, the second one to the joy of Christmas, the third one to Christmas peace, and the fourth one to love.

In many towns and cities, a well-lit and decorated Christmas street is ceremoniously opened with speeches and band music - just as tradition bids. A big and showy municipal Christmas tree, and the nicely lit Christmas street are popular especially among families with small children.

Christmas Street
In many towns and cities, a well-lit and decorated Christmas street is ceremoniously opened with speeches and band music - just as tradition bids. A big and showy municipal Christmas tree, and the nicely lit Christmas street are popular especially among families with small children.

Ever since 1947, Aleksanterinkatu in Helsinki has been the official Christmas street of Finland, opened every year with a big ceremony including speeches and music by a brass band.

Christmas Lights
Christmas is, in many senses, a feast of light. Christmas lights associate with a Christian message, that of Jesus appearing as the light of the world. In Finland, the time before Christmas is the darkest of the year, so Christmas lights provide a welcome relief in the darkness. Finns decorate their yard with electrical light bulbs, and with lanterns made of ice and snow. The flame of a candle is still the most popular source of light in Christmas time.

Christmas Calendar
The time elapsing while waiting for Christmas, which is a very long one from the point of view of the children for whom the elaborate preparations are often made, has, for several decades, been illustrated using a Christmas calendar. The Christmas calendar helps children count the days from 1 December to 24 December, on which day Santa Claus comes to Finnish homes.

The Christmas calendar tradition came to Finland from Germany in the 1910s. In olden days, the entire village would admire together the illustrations of biblical events relating to Christmas that often were the pictorial subject of such calendars. At present, children have at least one calendar of their own, featuring a picture, a sweet or a small artifact. The subject of the picture is often Santa, an elf, an animal or a popular film star.

Christmas Decorations
As everyone wants to make the most of the Christmas season, the Christmas decorations of the house are usually taken from the cupboard on Advent Sunday. The drapes and tablecloths are exchanged for special ones with a Christmas motif. The yard is decorated with Christmas lights, Christmas wreaths are hung on the front door, and an advent star, and an electric candelabrum in suitable windows.

At present, the Christmas decoration of a home is often a mixture of old tradition and new influences. The decorations made of straw represent the most ancient tradition. The himmeli, a straw mobile to be hung from the ceiling, is a traditional countryside decoration, and, being hand made, a real showpiece. Straw goats, and bands, stars, angels and elves have remained very popular. Finnish evergreen plants - such as juniper, lingonberry and the cones of conifers are great material for door or candle wreaths.

Besides decorations of straw, ones in the colours gold or silver and red-and-green are very popular. Angels, elves and birds are popular subjects. Christmas cards often feature stills of candles and flower arrangements.

Christmas Flowers
Red poinsettia, sweet-smelling hyacinths and red tulips are the most popular Christmas flowers in Finland. Flower arrangements and baskets are great gifts (also homecoming ones) around Christmas.

The lucky mistletoe, that is a ubiquitous Christmas decoration in many other countries, is mainly a Christmas-time party decoration in Finland. In Finland, the small lingonberry bush, growing wild in the forests, is used in the same manner as the mistletoe abroad.

Independence Day of Finland
The beginning of the Christmas season also includes an important national holiday, the Independence Day of Finland on December 6th. The custom in homes and government and municipal offices is to light two candles and place them on a windowsill. This day is also the day of St. Nicholas, the forefather of Santa Claus, so there are two important reasons for the celebration of this day in Finland.

Tiernapojat
Tiernapojat is originally a traditional tableau for the second day of Christmas, but in Finland, it can be performed at almost any Christmas-related event in December. Originally, the players in the tableau were students, going from house to house singing, and asking for food or money to support them during their studies. At present, the money gathered by the troupe is donated to charity.

Oulu is the town in Finland in which the Tiernapojat tradition is the strongest. The players in the tableau, focusing on the events involving the birth of Jesus and the slaughtering of boy children, are King Herod, the King of the Blackamoors, Herod's servant the Knight and the Bearer of the star. Formerly, the young people that aspired for a licence to perform had to do so by auditioning.

Christmas Partying
The time from Advent to Christmas is a carnival season in Finland. Workplaces, entire corporations, circles of friends or of people with a common interest, all will party and have a good time. The Christmas partying usually includes eating Christmas (rice) porridge and a speech by the one that finds the almond hidden in the porridge. We eat other typical Christmas delicacies, drink mulled wine, sing merry carols and songs, play parlour games, and, of course, enjoy Santa Claus' visit and the presents he bought. These Christmas "pre"parties are much merrier and louder than the real Christmas celebration.

Christmas time partying originates from the celebration of the Christmas tree of university students at the end of the autumn semester, which became en vogue in the 1920s.

Sta. Lucia's day
Sta. Lucia has always been a popular saint, from Italy to the Nordic Countries. Lucia was martyred on December 13th, 304, in Sicily. There are many legends relating to the saint. According to one, a Roman fell in love with Lucia's beautiful eyes and wanted to marry her. Lucia did not want to marry him and in an act of desperation she tore her own eyes from their sockets and gave them to the man. Then a miracle happened. Lucia got new eyes that were even more beautiful.

When the man still could not get Lucia, he ran his sword through her body. Since then Sta. Lucia has been the matron saint of the visually challenged. Sta. Lucia's day is celebrated on December 13th. The custom has come to Finland from Sweden. Each year a Lucia maiden is selected, and her inauguration ceremony starts with her descent along the stairs of the Helsinki Cathedral with flowers in her arms and a wreath with candles on her head. Lucia and her entourage spread an atmosphere of warm caring; they visit geriatric wards at hospitals and help collecting money for charity.

Traditions related to preparing for Christmas

Anna's day
Formerly, Anna's day on December 9th, was a very important day in Finland. On that day the most important preparations for Christmas were started: the thorough housecleaning, the baking of Christmas bread and the brewing of the Christmas beer. Although all Christmas food is not made at home any longer, Anna's day is still a good day to start preparations in earnest.

Modern Finns prepare differently, but there is still a lot to do besides housecleaning and cooking: Christmas presents must be bought, Christmas cards sent, the home decorated, Christmas sales prepared. And then there are the Christmas parties, of course.

Nearly all the usual Christmas food is available at stores, but many families still prefer to prepare the Christmas fare at home. Christmas pastry, gingerbread, Christmas decorations and Christmas cards are often prepared together with the children.

Charity
Before Christmas, Finns tend to give much more to charity than at other times of the year. The Christmas kettles of the Salvation Army have been seen on the busiest street corners in towns and cities since 1906.

The parishes of Finland also arrange Christmas carol singing events, where collection is taken up for the benefit of the poor in Asia and Africa, distributed there by the Finnish Missionary Society. Besides providing an opportunity to give funding for charitable purposes, these carol singing events are important moments of inspiration and awakening of the Christmas spirit.

Christmas Straw
Christmas straw has great sentimental value for Finns celebrating Christmas. In the olden days, straw was spread over the floor at Christmas in all Nordic Countries. The straw was believed to have magic power that ensured the success of next year's harvest. The straw also represented a Christian tradition; Jesus Christ was born on a bed of straw. The straw spread on the floor was also a comfort factor in those days, when floors here up north tended to be cold and draughty. Even today, straw decorations are a prominent feature of a Finnish Christmas home.

Christmas Baking

Christmas Pastries
Christmas pastries in the shape of a star or a half-moon are a must at the coffee table at Christmas. Christmas pastries are made of puff pastry with a filling of plum jam.

The first ones were baked in parsonages and mansions, and soon spread to other Christmas tables as well. Long ago, making puff pastry was hard work, involving the entire family. When there were no refrigerators, the pastry had to be carried outdoors to rest between each turning of the dough. Originally, apple or berry jam was used as a filling, nowadays only plum jam is used. Nowadays, pastry dough is widely available in stores, and baking is a fast and easy process.

Gingerbread
In many families the Christmas season begins for real on the day the first gingerbread is baked. Although gingerbread is available at every single store and sale, most Finns want to experience the heavenly smell of gingerbread baked in their own kitchen.

In the Middle Ages gingerbread was baked only in monasteries, and it was sold as a remedy for a lot of ailments. In the 18th century the Germans brought gingerbread to their Christmas markets. To Finland these delicacies, seasoned with allspice, cinnamon, cloves and ginger and coated with sugar, came in the late 19th century. The inspiration to make gingerbread houses was provided by the witch's house of bread and cake in the tale of Hansel and Grethel.

Christmas Bread
Formerly the Christmas bread was baked in the evening of Anna's day (9 December). One loaf was decorated with a pair of Christmas eyes or shaped to resemble a human face, and that loaf was eaten on the morning of Christmas day. According to an old belief, the Christmas bread was blessed. As soon as the harvest was reaped, flour was set aside for the sowing bread to be baked on Anna's day. This sowing bread was not eaten on Christmas, but it was displayed on the place of honour at the table. From the Christmas table it was returned to the grain bin to wait for the sowing season, at the beginning of which it was eaten. In this manner the blessed bread made for a good season of growth. Nowadays the Christmas bread is sweet and dark from being basted with syrup during the baking.

Christmas Coffeebread
Christmas coffeebread is usually enriched with saffron and raisins and formed into the shape of old men or women or stars.

Christmas Sales
Christmas sales are ubiquitous in Finland. Many clubs, associations, schools and day care centres arrange sales in December, collecting funds for their operation or for charitable purposes. Nearly all the parents of the children, or, as the case may be, the members of the club or association, join in and bake cakes, coffeebread, gingerbread etc. and make decorations for the sale.

Christmas Cards
Every year, Finns send tens of millions of Christmas cards. In 1999, the Finns sent 54 million Christmas cards, that's more than ten for every man, woman and child! Cards are sent to relatives and friends, customers and business partners. It is usual to affix a Christmas stamp on the Christmas cards. Before Christmas there are special Christmas labels for sale; the proceeds are channelled to charity.

The first Christmas card was drawn by an Englishman, John Calcott Horsley, in 1843. The event of postage stamps that took place at that time, and developments in printing technology made for the birth of a new industry: the Christmas card industry. In Finland the habit was taken up in upper class circles; initially cards were sent only to distant relatives. Rudolf Koivu and Martta Wendelin are two famous Finnish postcard painters.

Finns have always liked receiving Christmas cards. The cards are stowed away in drawers and kept for even decades. Reciprocity has always been an important consideration. In general, one gets as many cards as one sends. Many are those, who send Christmas cards to old acquaintances that they do not see any longer. Now as before, the most individual and valuable Christmas cards are hand made.

Christmas Present Bee
The Christmas present bee is a nice way of getting things done - presents, decorations, cards, pastries - in good company. It can be all in the family, or a gathering of friends or neighbours. The most common ones are still the Christmas present bees arranged by clubs, associations, day care centres and schools in preparation for their Christmas sale. Mulled wine (non-alcoholic), gingerbread and Christmas pastry is the normal fare and the sound system plays Christmas music - could any other surroundings provide better inspiration?

Christmas

St. Thomas' day
A long time ago, the Christmas peace begun on St. Thomas day on 21 December, and no more work was done. On that day, all preparations for Christmas should be finished. These days, for some of us, the busiest days of preparation will still lie ahead, come St. Thomas' day!

Christmas Tree Matinee
The Christmas Tree Party of Finnish schools is usually celebrated around St. Thomas' day. Besides the children, also their parents participate. The programme is rather traditional: plays, Christmas tableaux, e.g. Tiernapojat, elf games, fairies, angels, choir singing, singalongs, readings and musical performances that are rehearsed throughout the autumn. The Christmas Tree matinee is one of the high points during the long wait for Christmas; this is as true for the parents as for their children. The matinee marks the beginning of two weeks of Christmas holiday.

Christmas Eve
The Christmas tree is decorated in every Finnish home on the morning of Christmas Eve, at the very latest. This is the very last opportunity to bring Christmas flowers or another greeting to a neighbour or a friend. A big sheaf of oats for the birds is placed on a stick in the yard, and the bird feeder is filled with grains. See Christmas for the animals

At twelve noon, Christmas celebrations start in many Finnish homes. TV and radio broadcasts the Declaration of Christmas Peace in Turku over the entire country. The text, read from an ancient-looking scroll of parchment, admonishes the citizens to celebrate Christmas in a devout and peaceful manner, and wishes each and everyone a merry Christmas. At this point, even the most stressed Finn will try to relax and tune in the Christmas vibrations.

After the Declaration of Christmas Peace, everyone sits down to have a helping of Christmas porridge. The Finnish Christmas porridge is made from rice, and the kettle or saucepan always contains a hidden almond. The one who gets the almond is believed to have a very happy new year.

As the day gets darker, Finns will visit the cemetery to light a candle on the graves of their relatives. The dark cemetery is transformed into a sea of light and beautiful memories. The custom became widespread after the Second World War; initially candles were lit on the graves of fallen soldiers. Now almost half of the population visits the graves of family and friends on Christmas Eve. After a moment of tranquillity in the cemetery, it is time for the evening service in the church.

A Finnish Christmas is not complete without a sauna bath. Seven out of ten Finns take a sauna bath on Christmas Eve. It is nice to cool down in the fresh winter air, the bravest ones roll in the snow. See Christmas sauna

In the evening, everyone sits down around the table: it is time to enjoy the Christmas dinner. A traditional Christmas meal is always preceded by a reading of the Christmas Gospel and a Christmas psalm. The table is set with the best tablecloth and tableware. Everybody sits around the table, and the meal is always a very extended affair. The table is lavishly set because, as the old saying goes, on Christmas you are allowed to eat at night, too. See Christmas food

If the meal on Christmas Eve is the high point of the evening for the grown-ups, the climax for the children is the event that immediately follows the meal. The children convey an atmosphere of tingling expectation and tension that soon make even the grown-ups listen for the unmistakable clatter and sounds that signal the entry of Santa Claus. At this point, many families start singing: "Santa Claus, Santa Claus, old man, old Whitebeard. Doesn't your burden weigh too much, come in, we're not afraid…"

Santa enters, and asks: "Are there any well-behaved children around?" When all the children - young and old - have answered, a few pieces of gossip are exchanged, and then everybody sings a couple of Christmas carols. The bravest children get to sit in Santa's lap. Finally, Santa opens his big sack. Having distributed all the gifts, Santa must hurry to the next family on the list, then to the next, and so on, until he finally can return home to Korvatunturi in Lapland, Finland. See Christmas presents

Time will fly as the happy recipients acquaint themselves with their gifts through the rest of the evening of Christmas Eve, but many families will sing Christmas carols, watch Christmas shows on TV, listen to radio or go to Holy night mass.

Christmas Day
In Finland, Christmas Day is traditionally spent at home. The children play with their new toys or play board games, the grown-ups are listening to Christmas music, reading or just relaxing and enjoying the Christmas peace. Normally, people go out only if they go to church.

The Christmas Day service is very early in the morning, when the church, lit by a profusion of candles, is at its most beautiful. Before the age of the automobile, people went to church in a sleigh drawn by a horse, and raced each other home. The one that first reached his home was believed to have the best harvesting luck the next year.

Usually, the sleigh was full of people, people even stood on the runners. The bells fastened to the harness tingled. Nowadays, too, many people go to the church on Christmas day morning, but many prefer to go to church the previous evening. Be as it may, during the Christmas season many people go to church that normally would not do so.

Boxing Day
Boxing Day has always been a day for visiting people. As opposed to Christmas day, Boxing day is a day of play, dancing, acting and outdoor life. This day is dedicated to the horse. Boxing day is the day that commemorates St. Stephen, a martyr stoned to death. According to the legend, this stable boy of King Herod told his master that Jesus Christ was born, but King Herod did not believe him. He said, that if that is true, let the rooster on his plate come to life and crow. The rooster woke up and crowed "Christ is born", and Herod had Stephen stoned.

In earlier days horse-owners even ate together with their horses in the stables on Boxing day in commemoration of St. Stephen, the patron saint of horses and horsemen. Boxing day is traditionally a day on which sleigh rides and horse races abound. Nowadays it is possible to join a sleigh ride on Boxing Day at least at vacation centres and riding schools.

Even if people usually drive a car to the place they are visiting, Finns are still talking about a Boxing Day ride. Skis, skates and a toboggan are naturally excellent vehicles in the Finnish winterland as well.

Epiphany/Twelfth day
Epiphany, the twelfth day of Christmas, celebrated on 6 January, is the holiday that ends the Christmas season. Now it is time to strip the Christmas tree and carry it out of the house, to eat the gingerbread house, and to enjoy the last morsels of Christmas food, and the last drops of mulled wine, to be had before the next Christmas season.

Nuutti's (Canute's) day
Up to the late 17th century, Nuutti's day was celebrated on 7 January, the day after Epiphany. Epiphany was, and still is, a peaceful holiday, while Nuutti's day was a final day of Christmas celebrated in a much less subdued manner. In the old days, the Finns used to go from house to house, dressed up weirdly as Nuutti elves, begging for the last dredges of Christmas beer and then drinking and dancing it up.

A relic of that tradition is seen in the provinces of Häme and Satakunta: on Nuutti's day, still on 13 January where it was moved some 300 years ago, children dressed as Nuutti elves playfully go from door to door asking for sweets.

Declaration of Christmas Peace
Since 1935, Christmas peace for Finland has been declared in Turku at noon on Christmas Eve. The bells of the Cathedral having struck noon, a declaration, included in medieval Nordic legislation, is read from the balcony of City Hall. The text, read from an ancient-looking scroll of parchment, admonishes the citizens to celebrate Christmas in a devout and peaceful manner, and wishes each and everyone a merry Christmas. The declaration is followed by the national anthem of Finland, and a hymn written and composed by Martin Luther almost 500 years ago - A Safe Stronghold. At this point, even the most stressed Finn will try to relax and tune in the Christmas vibrations. The event is broadcast by radio and TV all over Finland, and to certain parts of Europe.

Visit by Santa Claus
On Christmas Eve, the climax for the children is the event that immediately follows the meal. The children convey an atmosphere of tingling expectation and tension that soon make even the grown-ups listen for the unmistakable clatter and sounds that signal the entry of Santa Claus. At this point, many families start singing: "Santa Claus, Santa Claus, old man, old Whitebeard. Doesn't your burden weigh too much, come in, we're not afraid…"

Grave Candles
As the day gets darker, Finns will visit the cemetery to light a candle on the graves of their relatives. The dark cemetery is transformed into a sea of light and beautiful memories. The custom became widespread after the Second World War; initially candles were lit on the graves of fallen soldiers. Now almost half of the population visits the graves of family and friends on Christmas Eve. After a moment of tranquillity in the cemetery, it is time for the evening service in the church.

Christmas Meal

The ham
The main course at the Finnish Christmas table is usually a ham, cooked in a very mild oven the previous night. According to an old legend, the pig ended up on the Christmas table because it disturbed the sleep of Jesus Christ by prodding at him with its snout. The ham is served as is with plums, green peas and Christmas mustard.

Stockfish
Stockfish was a common Christmas delicacy, when custom required fasting before Christmas. During the depression and the war years, it was a frequently seen main course that replaced the ham. Making stockfish is a slow and complicated process, involving several soaking and softening stages. Although times and habits change, a lot of people could not dispense with stockfish at Christmas; nowadays it's even easy to prepare - it just requires purchasing and cooking.

Casseroles of pot-herbs
Casseroles of pot-herbs, cooked in a very moderate oven for several hours, are traditional Finnish Christmas foods. Many say that they cannot imagine a Christmas without the smell of casseroles of swedes and carrots, as well as that of sweetened potato pudding, a speciality originating in the province of Häme.

Christmas beer
Drinking Christmas beer is an old Nordic tradition. The old Vikings used to say that "Christmas was drunk". With the advent of Christianity, seidels were raised to the memory of Christ. The Christmas beer was brewed on Anna's day. It was to be ready by St. Thomas' day; that day it was tasted for the first time. In order to be a credit to the household, the Christmas beer had to be strong and have a nice taste. It is not surprising that there were lots of magic and beliefs attached with the brewing. The incantation of charms, and avoiding evil words were important. Nowadays the high-class domestic Christmas beers and near beers are brewed mainly in breweries.

The Christmas Schnapps
A Christmas schnapps was formerly thought to bless the harvest. And, as the harvest was a matter that touched the lives of everyone, everyone participated in the drinking ritual - children, animals and teetotallers alike got their Christmas schnapps. Even in these days this alcohol-based shot is popular - at the beginning of the meal, with herring and lightly salted salmon, for example.

Christmas mulled wine
The drinking of mulled wine is a relatively new custom in Finland. It wasn't until the 1960s that this hot drink, flavoured with cloves, cinnamon and cardamom, became the rage at Christmas parties in December. It is a very good party drink, and warms up nicely after a stint in the cold Finnish winter night. At parties the mulled wine, often fortified with alcohol, is served with raisins and almonds.

Other popular Christmas foods
The turkey has become an increasingly popular main course at the Christmas table. In Northern Finland the main course might be a steak of reindeer. Besides stockfish, various preparations of herring and slightly salted salmon or whitefish are the most commonly seen fish courses. Fish roe is a Finnish delicacy, as good as caviar, and a must on the traditional Christmas table.

Other courses often found on the Christmas table include herring salad with pink sauce, liver pate, brawn and cottage cheese. Besides beer, milk and red wine are very popular beverages at the Christmas table. Today, almost all Christmas foods are available at the store. Notwithstanding, many prefer to do at least part of the cooking themselves.

Christmas for the animals
People have always associated animals with the Christmas tale. The Gospel according to Luke does not say so explicitly, but it's been thought that the manger was surrounded by several different animals. The belief that the animals, on Holy Night, got the power of speech and used that power for praising the Lord, lived for a long time. This is the reason why animals have been pampered and offered extra food at Christmas. Even in these modern times it seems very appropriate to ensure that bird feeders are full of birdseed and to give pets specially packaged Christmas presents. A Christmas sheaf of oats for the birds is an old Nordic tradition.

Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree is a Christmas decoration that is really suitable to our densely forested country. A real Christmas tree, smelling of fresh wood, will adorn all but a few Finnish homes every Christmas. The tradition of using lucky trees, jubilee trees and gift trees was rooted in Finland long before the idea of a Christmas tree was very widespread. On festive days a tree, usually a birch or a spruce, was erected in the yard. A green branch or a small spruce, decorated with gifts, was given as a nameday and birthday present.

The Christmas tree in its present form had a breakthrough in Finland in the 19th century. At first it adorned only the homes of the bourgeoisie, later it was adopted by the entire population. The cover picture of a Christmas magazine issued in 1878, "The Village Library Pictorial", showing Martin Luther and his family enjoying their Christmas meal around a table, whose centerpiece was a spruce adorned with candles on its branches and an angel on the top, might have inspired people to get themselves a Christmas tree. The Christmas tree matinees at the elementary school made the Christmas tree well-known in the rural areas. Today, the Christmas tree comes in many shapes, sizes and forms; it may even be - and often is - made of plastic.

In 1924, the first enterprise dedicated to the manufacturing of Christmas tree decorations was founded in Finland. Balls, stars, ribbons, spark sticks, and, naturally, top stars, from the Weiste factory are the preferred decoration for Finnish Christmas trees. Usually both trendy decorations as well as old ones, reflecting the history of the family, are used side by side. The valuable elves and angels made by the children that return to the tree every year will have to cope with an environment dominated by silver, gold or straw, whatever the current rage may be.

Besides the trees in their own homes, Finns can every year admire big ones erected in the yards of supermarkets and in town squares. Among Christmas tree traditions, we note that the forestry students at the University of Helsinki every year give the President of the Republic a Christmas tree, and that the City of Helsinki, as a token of friendship, sends a Christmas tree to the city of Brussels every other year, a tradition unbroken since 1954.

Christmas Sauna
For the Finns, the sauna has always been a sacred place. Formerly women gave birth in the sauna, and the sauna peace was safeguarded by the sauna elf. In the olden days, time was reserved for the dead as well, the last person to leave the sauna threw a ladle of water on the stones for their benefit. The Christmas sauna was quite early, before the Christmas dinner. Today seven out of ten Finns have a sauna bath on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Gospel
It is customary to read the Christmas Gospel aloud to all the people in a house on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day. As the parents often were illiterate, the important task was given to the one of the children, who had been able to attend school. Nowadays the reading of the Christmas Gospel is performed at the table before dinner by the youngest child capable of reading.

Christmas Presents
The custom of giving Christmas presents started among the wealthy in the 18th century. The gift was accompanied by a poem that was considered as important as the gift itself. The poem must not specify the present, but it had to provide a clue. In the countryside and in working-class families the custom of giving presents emerged just over a hundred years ago. In those days the present was often a food item or a small artefact made by the giver.

Later, the present could be a luxury item in wealthy families, others had to do with utility items. In the 1960s, when it became normal for both parents to have jobs, people suddenly could afford to buy many presents, and started doing so as well. Especially the children may receive tens of Christmas presents from their parents, grandparents, godparents and other relatives. Finns have always appreciated self-made gifts, and those are still the ones that are cherished the most. Some families gather all the presents under the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, to others all or part of the presents are brought by Santa Claus or his elves.

Christmas Legends

Santa Claus
St. Nicholas, who lived 270-347, is considered to be the forefather of Santa Claus. This Catholic saint, who was the bishop of Myra, was a benefactor, whose memory is celebrated on 6 December. The legend of Santa Claus was born, when the good-hearted Nicholas helped an impoverished nobleman, who could not afford decent dowry for his daughters.

Nicholas threw two pouches of gold coins for the dowry into the house through an open window. Later he started wondering whether he had given enough, and decided to return to give some more. This time the window was shut, however, so he climbed up on the roof and dropped the money through the chimney. When the daughters awoke in the morning, they found that the socks they had left to dry on the mantelpiece were filled with money. The happy nobleman never found out where the money came from.

The present Finnish Santa Claus is a good-hearted educator, who equally considers what is good for all people and animals, and he is also prone to give children instructions on proper behaviour. Formerly parents used to scare their children with Santa Claus. Santa brought gifts to obedient and nice children, and naughty ones a taste of the birch. Nowadays all children wait for the friendly-looking Santa Claus with eager anticipation. The traditional first question of Santa, "Are there any well-behaved children around?" is still asked, but all the children get their gifts anyway.

Mrs. Santa
Mrs Santa is a woman figure, usually depicted as a sturdy woman with red cheeks. She usually stays at Korvatunturi, caring for the house and the elves.

Elves
The elves are Santa's faithful helpers, whose task it is to find out what presents which children want, make the presents and distribute them. Originally, the elves were not part of the Finnish Christmas. They were genies of the home, protecting the people living there. Each elf had a role of his own, and a certain sector to protect: there were stable elves, sauna elves, barn elves and room elves. In general, they were friendly and diligent if they were well taken care of, but if they got mad they could become very nasty, could desert their home, and cause the inhabitants of the house bad luck.

In the olden days, the elves were pampered especially on Christmas, and this might had led to the advent of elves at the end of the 19th century. One of the best-known Finnish elf tales is the one on the elf at Turku Castle, written by Zacharias Topelius, author of many fairy tales.

Reindeer
The reindeer are white, dark grey or spotted, half-tamed animals. They eat lichen an in the spring, mushrooms. Since the beginning of our time, they have been used as beasts of burden. Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer of Santa Claus, is easily the world's most famous reindeer.

Korvatunturi
Korvatunturi was "found" to be the real home of Santa Claus in 1927. That year the radio entertainer Markus Rautio, "Uncle Markus" to all children, told his listeners about Korvatunturi and its ears, listening to the children's pranks and play. Korvatunturi is 483 metres high, and located in the municipality of Savukoski, close to the eastern border of Finnish Lapland.

Literature:

Issakainen Tytti (edited in Finnish.): Suuri joulukirja. Kauppiaitten Kustannus Oy. New Interlitho SPA. Milano 1987. Joulu kultainen. Edited by Sirpa Karjalainen, Maija Silvennoinen, Riitta-Liisa Kuosmanen and Hilkka Opas. WSOY. Porvoo 1997. Kankaanpää Hilkka: Joulua odotellessa. Kätevät & Pätevät. Kirjayhtymä. Rauma 1987. Laulajainen Leena and Lahtinen Mysi: Mistä tuntee joulun? Koko perheen joulukirja. Otava. Keuruu 1992. Lehmusoksa Ritva: Joulu, joulu, armas aika. Suuri suomalainen joulukirja. Gummerus. Jyväskylä 1994. Salokorpi Sinikka and Lehmusoksa Ritva: Joulun aikaan. Otava. Keuruu 1998. Vuolio Kaisu: Suomalainen joulu. WSOY. Porvoo 1981. Vuorenjuuri, Helena and Martti: Hyvää joulua. Perheen joulukirja. 3rd completely revised edition. Otava. Keuruu 1981.

Toteutus: Terraventum