new year celebrations in Helsinki?

interleukin · Post by **interleukin** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 5:19 pm

Hi all,

have lived in Finland for a few years now, but will be spending new year's eve here for the first time. Do you have any tips about things to do for the evening (in Helsinki)? I guess a lot of people spend time with the family, or go to some big, organised party/concert. What other options are there? I am happy to be at home drinking and eating, but it would be fun to get out of the house a bit as well. Are there any bonfires, e.g. in Seurasaari? (Those are a big attraction at new year's from the big island I come from). Is there anything going on in Senate square or downtown?

t y,
interleukin

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ajdias · Post by **ajdias** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 5:42 pm

Yup, the Senate square, many people congregate there to celebrate the arrival of the new year and pop their bottles open... Other than the fireworks, the program sounds boring as hell. Btw, finns have this idiotic tradition of buying and launching their own fireworks - you'll see it being sold in supermarkets arounds.

Staying at home and going to a bar or restaurant are the other options. Been once to one such party here, clearly wasn't the most sought after party but he had pretty good fun.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 6:09 pm

Bonfires? New Year? Sorry, 6 months off

Fireworks and champagne... dogs and grannies will be hiding under their beds when the blitz starts. Thankfully they've now implemented some restrictions but it'll be like NY or LA on an average night for a couple days.

interleukin · Post by **interleukin** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 7:23 pm

Bonfires? New Year? Sorry, 6 months off

Yeah, I know

We would happily have the bonfires in the summer if we had summers...

So instead we "clean out the old year" and have the bonfires on the 31st of December.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 7:45 pm

But you also have 13 yule swines instead of one yule goat

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:13 pm

If you're in Espoo there is a firework display at the Barona Arena (ex-Länsiauto Arena ie Blues stadium in Tapiola) at 18:00

kalmisto · Post by **kalmisto** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:39 pm

New Year festivities at Senate Square ( in English ) :

http://www.hel.fi/wps/portal/Talousjasu ... ities_2009

kalmisto · Post by **kalmisto** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:46 pm

interleukin

Couchsurfers will probably arrange a get-together of some kind :
http://www.couchsurfing.org/meetings.html?mid=55717

Scroll down for a list of members who are interested !

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:47 pm

interleukin wrote:Are there any bonfires

Well, the probability of somebody torching the trash bins of your house or one of your neighbours is definitely above zero

ajdias · Post by **ajdias** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:52 pm

New Year festivities at Senate Square ( in English ) :

http://www.hel.fi/wps/portal/Talousjasu ... ities_2009

Thanks Kalmisto, I clicked the link I posted before and got a error page. That page is far more informative.

Here's some other things going on in town (mouseover for details).

umit · Post by **umit** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 2:43 pm

ajdias wrote:... Other than the fireworks, the program sounds boring as hell. Btw, finns have this idiotic tradition of buying and launching their own fireworks - you'll see it being sold in supermarkets arounds.

I was there last year. The program WAS boring as hell, including the fireworks! Unaware of the finns' "idiotic tradition", I was expecting a professional synchronized firework show, but it turned out to be firing stupid "raketit" one by one

CanuckKiWi · Post by **CanuckKiWi** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 12:16 pm

My first New Year's Eve in Finland was suitably cool (literally and figuratively!)

The at-home fireworks may not be spectacular in some areas, but in a heavily populated area with hundreds of people lighting them off you get a lovely 3 hour non-stop display! We chain-lit sparklers and had a bar spot in a snow bank, had a champagne slushie at midnight (too long outside!) and everyone got kissed... whether they wanted it or not

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