Discover traditional Christmas customs in Finland. From the festive sauna and Turku peace declaration to holiday foods, Joulupukki, and local markets.
### Everything About Christmas Day in Finland
Christmas is an important and age old celebration worldwide, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. The people of Finland celebrate this day annually, gathering together with immense joy on Christmas Eve. In this article, we explore the wonderful Christmas traditions in Finland.
### Christmas Traditions in Finland
Many Finnish traditions for Christmas have remained steadfast over decades, passed down from generation to generation. Among these core traditions are the Christmas sauna, church visits, lighting candles at cemeteries, listening to beautiful Christmas carols, decorating homes and trees, Santa visits, and warm gatherings with friends and family.
One of the most defining traditions in Finland is the Declaration of Christmas Peace. While some historical written drafts date to the 17th century and earlier medieval roots, it's a common misconception that this happens at midnight. It actually takes place exactly at noon (12:00 PM) on Christmas Eve in the Old Great Square of Turku. People living in other cities follow this moving declaration live through radio, television, or the internet. During this declaration, the Finnish national anthem and songs significant to the patriotic culture of Finland echo across the nation.
The celebration of Christmas Eve is one of the most significant occasions of the year in Finland, where families gather to enjoy various local foods in a joyful atmosphere. On Christmas Eve, families traditionally light two colored blue and white candles in front of windows and decorate their yards. Inside the homes, the Christmas tree and festive ornaments are beautifully arranged. After dinner, many families head directly to the sauna for further relaxation.
### Christmas Tree Decoration
The origin of the Christmas tree comes with numerous historical stories, but the tradition largely dates back to Germany in the 16th century. At that time, pine trees were small, so they were either placed on tables or hung from the ceiling. Over time, this tradition spread to other countries.
Nobles in Northern European countries and Finland started decorating Christmas trees from the 19th century. Back then, trees were adorned with candles, sweets, or ribbons. In Finland, it was traditionally customary to bring the Christmas tree directly from the forest, but nowadays, most trees are bought from local markets. In recent decades, high quality artificial trees have also gained popularity, and some households have switched to these instead of using real trees.
### Traditional Christmas Foods
One of the main components of Christmas celebrations in Finland is the traditional local cuisine, which brings families together around the holiday table.
### Rice Porridge
The festive meals on Christmas often kick off with a hearty batch of rice porridge. Inside one of the bowls of porridge, a single almond is hidden, and whoever finds it in their serving will have a year filled with joy and luck. Christmas porridge is usually served with cinnamon, sugar, and a pat of butter. Some families consume porridge for lunch instead of breakfast. A significant part of this tradition is the group experience of eating the porridge together.
### Gingerbread Cookies
Another favorite sweet treat during this time is gingerbread cookies, which are prominently displayed on most dinner tables. At many Christmas related events, you will find lively baking and decorating competitions where baking enthusiasts showcase their artistic skills.
### Ham, Fish, and Christmas Tart
Early in the evening, a traditional Christmas meal is served at the dinner table as the entire family gathers to celebrate. The exact mealtime varies among families some prefer to have Christmas dinner in the late afternoon, while others stay at the table until late evening. A common tradition before sitting down for Christmas dinner in Finland is reading the holiday gospel and singing carols, usually accompanied by a piano.
The primary aim of the Christmas feast is to spend serene moments with family and loved ones. The most important centerpiece on the Christmas table in Finland is the “joulupöytä” (Christmas table), featuring “joulukinkku” (pork ham) cooked in a traditional way. Other traditional Christmas foods include various hearty casseroles, like carrot and Swedish rutabaga casserole, served alongside the main dish and fish. For dessert, the Christmas tart a fluffy, star shaped pastry filled with plum jam is a classic pastry that’s highly popular among Finns on Christmas Day.
### Letter to Santa Claus
As Christmas approaches, children are asked to write a heartfelt letter to Santa Claus, telling him how good they’ve been throughout the year and what they wish to receive for the holidays. Subsequently, children place these letters in the mailbox or a glass container, eagerly awaiting the night when Santa’s helpers collect them. Usually, parents pick up the letters and secretly purchase the requested gifts to fulfill their children’s needs.
### Saint Lucy’s Day Celebration
For Swedish speaking Finns, who comprise about 6% of the population, Saint Lucy’s Day is considered a beautiful precursor to the core Christmastime celebrations. On December 13th, a chosen girl in a long white gown carrying a crown of candles illuminates joy and light. Lucy, chosen annually by the public, visits hospitals, nursing homes, and places that require light and cheer, brightening them with candles and song.
### Christmas Day in Finland: Talking to Santa Claus
The start of Christmas morning in Finland involves turning on the television to watch Santa Claus talk to children via telephone live from the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. Before Santa heads out to deliver his gifts, he spends the morning talking to the children on air.
Spending Christmas morning listening to a bustling phone line on the show "Joulupukin Kuuma linja" (Santa's Hot Line) is a vivid childhood memory for many Finns. In the past, half of the Finnish children wished to talk to Santa, but only a few lucky ones succeeded! This beloved program has been broadcast annually since 1991 on Yle TV 2.
### Attending Church on Christmas Eve
Churches in Finland are never as full on any other night of the year as they are on Christmas Eve. It’s a peaceful time for singing Christmas carols and lighting candles on the graves of loved ones. On Christmas Eve, cemeteries across the country are filled with beautifully lit candles. This tradition dates back to wartime when people lit candles in deep remembrance of fallen soldiers, and it has persisted as a powerful tradition today.
### Christmas Sauna in Finland
The sauna is a designated place for peace and quiet that Finns have a great affinity for throughout the year. Usually, individuals who don’t attend church on Christmas often spend their afternoon in the sauna to enjoy its comforting warmth and serenity. Spending time to relieve stress is deeply rooted in Finnish holiday traditions, which is why saunas are highly popular in the country during the holidays.
### Meeting Santa Claus on Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, Santa Claus visits homes in person and, after knocking loudly on the door, inquires whether a well behaved child lives there. After the children eagerly respond, Santa enters the house with his heavy bag of gifts.
Traditions vary from home to home, but usually, children sing songs for Santa and have a brief conversation with him. Then, Santa reaches into his bag and calls out each recipient’s name for the gift. In some cases where Santa is in a rush, he might hand over the gifts directly to the family and ask them to distribute them among the children later. The rest of Christmas Eve is spent in absolute peace. While everyone is delighted with their gifts, they change into comfortable clothes and settle down to watch a festive movie.
### Christmas Day Events in Finland
Various events and winter markets are held across Finland in celebration of the holiday season. In Rovaniemi, Christmas kicks off with a lively event in Santa Claus Village. Traditionally, this event begins with a music concert and concludes with Santa’s speech, joy, and singing.
In Ranua, the Christmas season starts with a gingerbread cookie market held at the Peura Sports Hall. Meanwhile, in Helsinki, the start of the Christmas season is marked by the magnificent lighting of official Christmas lights on Aleksanterinkatu, indicating the official start of the holidays.
### Final Words
Spending Christmas Day in Finland will create wonderful, lasting memories for you. Finns have deeply interesting traditions for celebrating Christmas, and they never overlook the magic of a warm holiday sauna. On Christmas Eve, they prefer to enjoy a delightful meal with their families, open gifts, and later watch a movie or head out to the streets for celebrations. Visiting Finland during these days of the year can be an ideal choice for a holiday getaway.
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