Get to know Finnish Christmas and its traditions. Sauna and fish in a thousand ways.

Although Santa Claus supposedly lives in Finland, the presents to Finnish children brings is the Joulupukki, not Santa Claus.

What does Joulupukki look like?

What to eat for breakfast and dinner on Christmas Day?

What is the name of a typical straw decoration?

Our article will tell you everything about how Christmas is celebrated in Finland.

When is Christmas celebrated in Finland?

For many Finns, Christmas is one of the year’s most important holidays. Families usually get together and enjoy traditions together. Everyone tries to be home for Christmas, including fishermen who try to get their boats into port by December 21st.

According to the old laws, the Christmas lull lasted 20 days, starting on December 21, St. Thomas’ Day, and ending on January 13, Knutt’s Day. This is also indicated by the old proverb: “Good Thomas brought Christmas with him, bad Nuutti took it away.” The most important day is Christmas Day – the so-called Jouluaatto.

Merry Christmas in Finnish is Hyvää joulua. In Northern Sami, spoken in northern Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Russia, it is Buorit Juovllat.

Do you know Finnish Christmas traditions?

Christmas in Finland is associated with many customs, the most famous of which include visiting a Christmas sauna and church, visiting a cemetery, lighting Advent candles, and looking for a Christmas tree. Why is the sauna so important for Finns, and where did this tradition come from?

Christmas trees are traditionally decorated mainly with straw and paper ornaments. In some parts of Finland, they decorate their houses with traditional straw ornaments called kokonarput. Kokonarput looks like a group of stars that can be hung from the ceiling or placed on a table. They symbolize the Christmas tree and are supposed to bring good luck in the coming year.

One of the most famous traditions of Christmas Day has also become the declaration of Christmas peace, which takes place every year in the square in Turku. This announcement makes the Christmas peace valid for 20 days. It is a tradition that dates back to the 17th century.

Finns spend Christmas Day at home with their families and go cross-country skiing or skating.

Who brings the children’s presents?

In Finland, a Joulupukki – the Christmas goat, brings presents to children. Joulu means Christmas, and pukki means goat. The tradition is based on a Scandinavian legend about a goat that was haunted and asked people for gifts, certainly not giving any.

Over time, the goat became a more human figure like Santa Claus, but the name Christmas goat remained. On December 24, Joulupukki rides reindeer and leaves presents under the Christmas tree.

Finnish children believe that Joulupukki lives in the northern part of Finland, which is called Korvatunturi or Lapland. People from all over the world send letters to “Jesus” in Finland. There is a famous Christmas village in Rovaniemi, north of Finland, not far from where Joulupukki is said to live.

What is eaten in Finland at Christmas?

Rice porridge with cinnamon and plum fruit juice is traditionally eaten for breakfast on Christmas Day. The main Christmas Eve meal is consumed in the early evening. The traditional dish is joulukinkku or Christmas-baked ham served with mashed potatoes.

Other classic Christmas dishes are fish in many ways, especially the appetizer lipeäkala or lutefisk, cod with butter and white sauce, or marinated salmon or herring. Baked vegetables, such as carrots or Brussels sprouts, are often served as a side dish. There is also vegetable salad rossoli or pickled mushrooms.

Dessert is a baked rice pudding, which is eaten with spiced plum marmalade. One almond is hidden in the pudding. Whoever finds the almond will be lucky for the whole next year. A typical Christmas cookie is joulutorttu, stars filled with jam. Unwrapping of presents follows the dinner.

A traditional Christmas drink is glögi, a Finnish version of mulled wine spiced with ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.

How to prepare rossoli salad?

While we cannot imagine Christmas without potato salad, rossoli salad is typical for Christmas in Finland. It is prepared with beetroot, potatoes, carrots, apples, onions, and pickles in a spicy dressing.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pickled beets cut into cubes
• 1/2 cup of potatoes cut into cubes
• 1/2 cup of diced carrots
• 1 diced red onion
• 1 peeled and diced apple
• 1/4 cup of chopped pickled cucumbers
• 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper

Dressing

• 1/4 cup of Greek yogurt
• 1/2 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon of powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon beetroot juice

Method:

1. Place the potatoes and carrots in a pot of boiling water.
2. Cook until they are soft but not mushy.
3. Drain the vegetables and set aside to cool.
4. Meanwhile, prepare the dressing by mixing all the ingredients in a small bowl.
5. Transfer the potatoes and carrots to a large bowl when they are cool.
6. Add the beetroot, onion, apple, and pickles.
7. Season with salt and pepper and mix well.
8. If you want to serve the salad immediately, mix the dressing with the vegetables.
9. Otherwise, store the vegetables and the dressing in the refrigerator and add flavor before serving, or serve the dressing on the side.

What places to visit in Finland at Christmas?

Snow, Aurora borealis, and Santa Claus are typical things that come to mind concerning Christmas in Finland. Those who like adrenaline will not miss dog sledding, snowmobiling, or arctic swimming.

• Rovaniemi – The city of Rovaniemi is located in the northern part of Lapland near the Arctic Circle. Recently, it has become famous, mainly thanks to the Santa Claus village. This place offers a unique atmosphere and a variety of Christmas activities that attract thousands of tourists every year. 

• Helsinki—In the Finnish capital, there are many Christmas markets where you can buy traditional Finnish food, handicrafts, and decorations. The Joulupukki Parade, with its elves, reindeer, and traditional Finnish music, is also an attractive attraction.

• Kemi—If you like dog sledding, snowmobiling, and chasing the Aurora borealis, head to Kemi. This city is located on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia, not far from the border with Sweden. One of the sought-after attractions here is the Snow Castle Ice Hotel, which looks like something from a fairy tale and offers several frosty rooms.