LittleMissLaura
08-25-2007, 06:56 AM
Okay, I was asked to tell how we spend Christmas in Finland, so here we go.. I'm telling you about my family's tradition, i know many people in Finland may do this differently, but here is my version...
Our family puts the Christmas lights out on December 1st. We don't decorite outside alot, just lights to the trees on our yard. I don't think I have ever seen in Finland a house that was decoreted ALOT. Usually it's just few lights.
Here, as in many countries in Europe, we celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. In my family we get up early (i'm so exited I can't sleep late) and watch Christmas programmes on TV. The Snowman is a must see every year and we usually watch it the whole family there.
After that we eat rice porridge and it has an almond hidden it it. And who gets it will be the next one to get married. (i hope i get it this year since this year i'm the only one not married :D). At this time Christmas peace is announced in Turku and it comes rude to call or visit people during the Christmas time. Unless if you have plans together. But no suprise calls or visits to anyone!!
Next I decorite the tree. A real tree of course, sometimes we get it from our summer house, sometimes we buy it, but it has to be always real. I wouldn't handle a fake one.. And we got plenty of trees here! I usually end up decorating the tree by myself, but sometimes my parents help me.
Next up is the Christmas sauna, a very important tradition in Finland. My parents usually go there first and they leave to chuch when I'm in there, i like going to chuch during the next night. I usually spend time making Christmas bread. Which is really really good!
When my parents come back home we have a HUGE dinner and my sisters and their families come to join us. We eat around 3 hours or something like that. And after the dinner SANTA COMES!! Here we believe that Santa lives in Finland and he comes into the houses and gives us presents. I get all excited when Santa comes! In our family opening presents takes FOREVER because we wanna watch when other people open our presents. It takes around 3 hours too..
And after the presents we just spend time together and for example play Trivial Pursuit, or something fun like that..
Christmas Day here is just for relaxing and playing with your presents. Sometimes we also visit our relatives.
Here is a picture from few years back..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/kauniskate/joulu/ch.jpg
Okay, I think that's it!
Our family puts the Christmas lights out on December 1st. We don't decorite outside alot, just lights to the trees on our yard. I don't think I have ever seen in Finland a house that was decoreted ALOT. Usually it's just few lights.
Here, as in many countries in Europe, we celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. In my family we get up early (i'm so exited I can't sleep late) and watch Christmas programmes on TV. The Snowman is a must see every year and we usually watch it the whole family there.
After that we eat rice porridge and it has an almond hidden it it. And who gets it will be the next one to get married. (i hope i get it this year since this year i'm the only one not married :D). At this time Christmas peace is announced in Turku and it comes rude to call or visit people during the Christmas time. Unless if you have plans together. But no suprise calls or visits to anyone!!
Next I decorite the tree. A real tree of course, sometimes we get it from our summer house, sometimes we buy it, but it has to be always real. I wouldn't handle a fake one.. And we got plenty of trees here! I usually end up decorating the tree by myself, but sometimes my parents help me.
Next up is the Christmas sauna, a very important tradition in Finland. My parents usually go there first and they leave to chuch when I'm in there, i like going to chuch during the next night. I usually spend time making Christmas bread. Which is really really good!
When my parents come back home we have a HUGE dinner and my sisters and their families come to join us. We eat around 3 hours or something like that. And after the dinner SANTA COMES!! Here we believe that Santa lives in Finland and he comes into the houses and gives us presents. I get all excited when Santa comes! In our family opening presents takes FOREVER because we wanna watch when other people open our presents. It takes around 3 hours too..
And after the presents we just spend time together and for example play Trivial Pursuit, or something fun like that..
Christmas Day here is just for relaxing and playing with your presents. Sometimes we also visit our relatives.
Here is a picture from few years back..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/kauniskate/joulu/ch.jpg
Okay, I think that's it!