Finland: Helsinki, Away for the Holidays - Christmas in the Home of the Real Santa Claus.  Winter in Finland begins with short days and long nights, a magnificent display of the Northern Lights, and continues luscious dark coffee or hot chocolate sipped fireside, local festivals, cultural celebrations, and treats for all ages.

Known by many as the “real home of Santa Claus,” Finland celebrates Christmas in a manner befitting the distinction with holiday markets, festivities and traditions, all culminating on Christmas Eve with a taking of the sauna, enjoyment of Christmas treats and gatherings with friends and family and a visit by the jolly elf himself - Santa Claus.

 

Sharing the tradition of a Christmas smorgasbord in Finland makes the long journey more than worth it. The “Joulupöytä” (translated "Yule table") includes delightful Scandinavian delicacies meant to be sampled and often devoured. Taste gravlax graavilohi (freshly salted salmon), lanttulaatikko (rutabaga casserole), sillisalaatti (herring-salad), scrumptious cheese most commonly leipäjuusto and aura-juusto, Joululimppu (lovely sweet bread). And my favorite tradition - suklaa (chocolate) is given as presents, and eaten in-between meals. And it is easy to find warm glögi (glogg of course) also known as mulled wine. 

Look for Santa Claus, Father Christmas or the Original Joulupukki. Santa Claus, or Joulupukki in Finnish, is known to reside in northeastern Lapland, on the Korvatunturi Fell. Legend states that the Korvatunturi Fell is shaped like an ear, allowing Santa to hear the wishes of children from around the world. Korvatunturi is “home base” for Santa’s travels above the Arctic Circle.

Visit Santa Claus Village. Open throughout the year with free admission, Santa Claus Village is home to Santa Claus’s Office where visitors of all ages may meet Santa, visit his Main Post Office and observe the flurry of the festive season. Cards, letters and parcels sent from Santa Claus’ Main Post Office are stamped with a unique Arctic Circle postmark. Through the years Finland’s Santa Claus has received more than 18 million letters. Each year he receives more than 600 000 letters from more than 150 countries. Write to Santa. Santa Claus Santa Claus Village, FIN-96930 Arctic Circle, Finland or log on to www.santaclausvillage.info

Find SantaPark. The fantasy world of SantaPark is inside an underground cave where “elves” work all year in preparation for Christmas. Guests may bake and decorate gingerbread in the Gingerbread Kitchen, learn elf skills in Elf School, or make Christmas decorations in the Elf Workshop. SantaPark’s Sleigh Ride takes guests through four seasons of Finland to the elves’ toy factory where presents for Christmas are made. Entrance is 23€ for children and 28€ for adults from November-January. Log on to www.santapark.com

Holiday Markets and Celebrations

St. Thomas Markets throughout Finland (December). According to the Finnish tradition, Christmas is brought to the homes by St. Thomas in December (St. Thomas Day) and is taken away by St. Knut in January. St. Thomas markets prepare for the festivities, selling handmade Christmas decorations, ornaments, handicrafts, gifts, and treats such as ginger bread and hot mulled wine, Glögi, a warming combination of wine, spices and fruit. The colorful St. Thomas Market in Helsinki, in Esplanade Park, is the largest Christmas market in Finland with approximately 150 vendors. On weekends, entertainment includes a Finnish Christmas pageant and a visit by Santa Claus. The market is open daily in December.

Helsinki’s St. Lucia Celebration. On St. Lucia Day, thousands of people gather at Helsinki Cathedral to watch the crowning of a young woman as St. Lucia. Adapted from Swedish tradition and celebrated in this form in Finland since 1949, a magical candle-lit procession through the city follows where Lucia greets the public wearing a white gown and a crown of lingonberry twigs and candles symbolizing charity, compassion and light.

Turku Christmas Fair (Weekends November-December). The Fair at the Old Great Square sells handicrafts and baked goods, with a special twist: all merchandise is chosen by a designated jury.

The Declaration of Christmas Peace in Turku (December). A tradition since the 1320s, The Declaration of Christmas Peace is read in Old Square at noon, marking the official beginning of Christmas. The declaration to the townspeople includes humanitarian and ecumenical messages as well as holiday cheer. The present-day Christmas Declaration was transcribed by memory by the Town Clerk after the Great Fire of Turku in the early 1800s. The Declaration has been aired on radio since 1935 and televised since 1983.

For more information please see visit Finland at www.visitfinland.com

Content and images provided by Visit Finland. Food comments provide by Nancy Nelson-Duac, Executive Editor FTF. Copyright 2011.