A Finnish Christmas

[423march]

I'm sorry for being late on replying.
Thank you for all of the information

> EP

And a word of warning: churches are full.

Thank you for warning me, I'll make sure that I check a several beforehand.

I knew laatikko, but only as a casserolle(but a casserolle is a totally different thing in Japan so I was a bit confused at first). Well, it is in a squarish shape, I guess
Reindeer fillet sounds good, I've only tried reindeer as meat balls but they were delicious.

One fun thing to do on Christmas Eve is Santa Claus Spotting.

I'd imagine this would have to be in a residential area where families with children live, but yes, it does sound fun
I might try taking a walk a bit far from home, because I live in an area where theres only big buildings (no fun ).

> Hpslm

But the better concerts etc. happen earlier during December.

Again, thanks for the information
Am I correct when I'm thinking Christmas service to be candle service, the Bethlehem play and hymns? (I'm sorry, it may be completely wrong since its mostly my impression from movies and books, I think)

I try my best to be open and negotiable, but I usually feel like I'm doing something inappropriate when I have to ask something in English amidst a Finnish conversation (where I'm just listening but no so much understanding). I would very much like to practice Finnish, but most Finnish people are are too kind and automatically switch over to English when talking to me, and I don't want to impair the otherwise smooth conversations. I try my best, but my Finnish is still very very limited...:/ Oh well, I shouldn't rant :p
I think I can get the point across that I am interested, so that should be good enough!

> onkko
Yes, I like the salmons, but I'm afraid not so much the pickled herring :/ We have different types of fish.
But if so many of you seem to hate ham for its ubiquity and big doses in Christmas feasts, I think I might have to try some;)
I'll be on watch for Lanttulaatikko if there's so holy

And Moomin is VERY popular in Japan, I knew them definitely before I even heard of Finland waaay back in my childhood
We have even have Moomin Cafes in a several locations

> AnnikaL
I guess the 'forced feeding' thing happens everywhere
The Japanese New Years meal (Osechi) is something you eat every meal for the first 3 days of the years, and most ritual meant foods aren't, well, the best.
But that's what makes the holiday a traditional holiday!

> Pursuivant

It is more different in Catholic and Orthodox church they have "midnight mass" at Christmas 24th, The Lutherans go to "joulukirkko" in the morning on 25th.

Maybe I've only even if vaguely known about the Catholic/Orthodox ones then... I will look for joulukirkko information then
The 'Eve' tradition sounds a bit like our 'Obon' when we welcome our ancestors' spirits back home. Sounds great

As our Finnish professor says, "We're not weird, we're just different." So are us Japanese
And in my opinion, nothing beats the States in terms of craziness

[onkko]

Sorry to hijack this but i have been laughing at this video even withouth understand it. I know Aho isnt surname you would like in Japan but what does Paajanen mean

[i'm an orange]

Is it just me or nobody has mentioned about drinking yet? Don't tell me that Finns quit drinking on Christmas.

[EP]

Don't tell me that Finns quit drinking on Christmas.

Typical Christmas is not a drinking party.

[Hpslm]

Again, thanks for the information
Am I correct when I'm thinking Christmas service to be candle service, the Bethlehem play and hymns? (I'm sorry, it may be completely wrong since its mostly my impression from movies and books, I think)

Lutheran services are rather simplistic in nature. Unfortunately I think I have been in like 1 service during the last 10 years, so my memory is flaky on the subject. Sermons and hymns at the least.

I try my best to be open and negotiable, but I usually feel like I'm doing something inappropriate when I have to ask something in English amidst a Finnish conversation (where I'm just listening but no so much understanding). I would very much like to practice Finnish, but most Finnish people are are too kind and automatically switch over to English when talking to me, and I don't want to impair the otherwise smooth conversations. I try my best, but my Finnish is still very very limited...:/ Oh well, I shouldn't rant :p
I think I can get the point across that I am interested, so that should be good enough!

We are also rather unused to hearing totally fluent Finnish, so the reaction to switching into English is in many ways automated. You kinda need to tire the other party down and insist on speaking Finnish. Again for some, I would say that they haven't though enought about it to even be aware of the behaviour.

If you're among your age people, chances are that they all are fluent enough in English. I'm sure no one will mind if you follow along a Finnish conversation and take part in English. I think they'll actually be happier knowing that they are not exluding you when they speak Finnish. Speaking foreign tongue - no matter how fluent you are -takes more energy especially when you're tired, so the chance to use native tongue is great.

[Jukka Aho]

But the better concerts etc. happen earlier during December.

Again, thanks for the information :D

Some suggestions for Christmas concerts:

• Rajaton
• Club for Five
• Pohjalaisten osakuntien laulajat
• Philomela
• Johanna Kurkela

Am I correct when I'm thinking Christmas service to be candle service, the Bethlehem play and hymns? (I'm sorry, it may be completely wrong since its mostly my impression from movies and books, I think)

I think the Bethlehem play (of some sort) might be arranged for children in some churches during some services, but the typical Christmas services I have attended to don't include it. They might have set up a static nativity scene in the front of church, near the altar, and there's usually the Christmas tree as well... but no play, necessarily. Mostly it's just an ordinary service with some well-known Christmas hymns, such as Enkeli taivaan (originally from German Von Himmel Hoch), or Heinillä härkien kaukalon (Entre le bœuf et l'âne gris), or En etsi valtaa, loistoa (Give me no Splendour, Gold or Pomp). The minister will traditionally read an excerpt from the Gospel of Luke describing the nativity scene - see here for the verses in Finnish (both a recent and an older translation) as compared to the same verses in English from King James Bible.

Here’s some more information in English from the website of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland:

• Orders of Worship

And Moomin is VERY popular in Japan, I knew them definitely before I even heard of Finland waaay back in my childhood ;)
We have even have Moomin Cafes in a several locations :D

If you’d like to get a cute “souvenir” from Finland, a bit akin to the Moomin characters, here's an illustrated story book by a Finnish author/artist I would recommend:

• Koiramäki (by Mauri Kunnas)

It’s a compilation of the three Koiramäki books published previously. As Wikipedia describes the author, “His most famous children's book series is called Koiramäki (Dog Hill), set in historical Finland, featuring anthropomorphic dogs.” The books have lavish, very detailed, hand-painted full-spread illustrations of life in Finland ca. 1850...1920, or so... but depicted with anthropomorphic dog characters. The book also features old Finnish Christmas traditions which might give you some background information about the topic. (This blog entry is apparently related, I’m not sure what it’s about.)

Another book you might like is Suomalainen tonttukirja (see here as well), a book on Finnish elves/gnomes which is also by the same author and has been published as a Japanese edition by Bunka Publishing Bureau... but I don’t know the Japanese title or its availability. It has also been published in English with the title The Book of Finnish Elves.

[silk]

Suomalainen tonttukirja

I think I have to order this gem... Thanks for the reminder Jukka.

[Pursuivant]

I think the Bethlehem play (of some sort) might be arranged for children in some churches during some services, but the typical Christmas services I have attended to don't include it.

Usually, the nativity play was done if the "school went to church" which our school did but I dont know if they do it...

There might also be a troop of "star boys" thats grown more popular

[jubuis]

20-year-old finnish student here...

These "drinking parties" are called "pikkujoulut" and are being held usually from around November to 23. Dec.

24.12 Is the day when people lock themselves up with their families, watch TV from 8-16 (lots of annual shows coming like "Santa's hotline", "The Snowman", "Joulurauhan julistus" and probably a Simpsons marathon) or just idle. When the sun goes down families share presents and open them. After that it's eating and playing with those gifts etc.
25.12 Nothing special. I usually hook up with friends and do some ex tempore stuff. Last year we went to some dive bar and for our surprise found it stuffed (All middleaged drunks from the hoods were there to pass time, as local booze stores weren't open).

Warning: The churches can be boring (very).

Also about Finnish Christmas tradition.. Wasn't it traditional and basic Christmas from 19. to mid 20. centuries to drink a keg of moonshine and race with neighbour's horse carriage to home after Christmas service?