The main winter holiday for Finns is, of course, Christmas. Gradually, the Christmas celebration spills over into the New Year. Although the New Year is not such an important holiday in Finland, some traditions are also associated with it.
A few days before Christmas, corporate events and parties begin in Finland. At this time, it is customary to meet with relatives, friends and acquaintances. Traditional pre-Christmas gatherings are accompanied by various fun games, contests and, of course, delicious treats.
One of the amazing and perhaps unique Christmas traditions in Finland is the must-see cemetery on Christmas Eve. Finns light candles on the graves of relatives and friends. They try to maintain the fire both during the day and at night. You can put candles in the cemetery not only before Christmas, but also during all subsequent holidays.
The traditional decoration of the Finnish Christmas table is a fresh turnip. It is not eaten. The turnip is well washed, cleaned, and then they make a flashlight out of it, somewhat similar to a Halloween pumpkin lantern. An artificial or real candle is placed inside the turnip.
Christmas celebrations in Finland are not complete without going to the sauna. As in Russia, according to tradition, they go to the bathhouse before the New Year, so in Finnish cities they go to the saunas. Finns believe that it is necessary to enter the New Year clean in every sense. All dirt is “destroyed” in the sauna, including the negative accumulated during the year.
At Christmas and New Years, they try to put some dry straw on the chairs at the festive table and under the tablecloth. This is an ancient tradition that people in Finland try not to break. It is believed that straw protects from evil and unclean spirits, attracts good luck and prosperity. The absence of straw in the house during the Christmas and New Year holidays promises troubles and misfortunes in the coming year.
On Christmas Eve and Christmas, many Finns go to the homes of their friends and acquaintances to sing traditional winter songs. This rite is called Tapaninpaiva. At the same time, according to tradition, it is necessary to dress up in some kind of costume. The whole action is very reminiscent of the carols familiar to Russians.
It is customary in Finland to burn a straw goat at Christmas. And on New Year's Eve in the courtyards of houses, on city streets, barrels of tar are set on fire. Finns believe that all the difficulties and problems that have befallen people in the past year will burn down along with the tar. On New Year's Eve, they also traditionally light more lights, candles, fireworks and explode colored fireworks.
Traditionally, both Christmas and New Year are celebrated at home, with family and friends. However, it is on New Year's Eve in recent years that tradition is often violated, since on a festive night in the cities there are entertainment venues, restaurants and clubs with a thematic show program.
Oddly enough, it is not customary to drink more alcoholic beverages in Finland either on Christmas or New Years. Classic alcoholic drinks, for example, mulled wine and light, not very strong beer, are present on holiday tables, but the Finns do not strive to celebrate Christmas or New Year in an absolutely intoxicated state.
After New Year's Eve, Finns have only one day to recover. Working days in Finland begin on January 2.
