What is Christmas like in Finland?

AnnabelleIeve · Post by **AnnabelleIeve** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 6:18 pm

In the usa, Christmas is very consumerism oriented. Finland seems more traditional when it comes to holidays and celebrations. What do you all do?

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kharnynb · Post by **kharnynb** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 7:28 pm

In finland, christmas is a very family oriented holiday, and it is THE holyday of the year for many fins.
Presents are bought and given to close family.

The main part of christmas is the christmas dinner.
Usually containing many cold starters such as smoked salmon, pickled herring etc.
And a main course of a full ham that has been roasted on low heat for a full night.
With indeed rosolli, different ovendishes, such as potato, carrot and turnip.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 9:02 pm

Shopping centers and department stores have started to put their christmas decorations on display (and on sale), so it is at least pretty big commercial side here too. Children get gifts, I guess typically in rather large numbers. (with adults many have com to the conclusion that is easier if everybody more or less skips them, but it varies). Sales really used to be only after Christmas but have started earlier (I think) after 2008.

The part of family gathering for dinner perhaps resembles more the thanksgiving in US? Many younger families need to plan which grand parents (or in what order) they are going to visit this year.

Families with small children often have the Santa visiting in person on Christmas eve (neighbor, relative or a paid service). Almost all the traditional food is such that it can well be stored in cool or in cold - so there is often lot of work and even stress getting things done before the holidays, sigh of relief hopefully on Christmas eve, and then on 25th-26th eating ready food, kids playing, and adults satisfied that they don't need to do too much for a day or two.

misu · Post by **misu** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 2:04 pm

AnnabelleIeve wrote: I'd also like to know about, if you are originally from United States, how the Christmas consumerism in USA compares with Christmas consumerism in Finland

I'd say it's still pretty consumeristic here as well, though maybe not to the same extent, i.e., no aggressive Black Friday extreme-shopping behavior. Around the Christmas season, many larger stores and shopping malls extend their hours so people have more time to shop and buy gifts. You can tell Christmas is coming when two months beforehand you start noticing comically gigantic mountains of stacked chocolate boxes everywhere in grocery stores. And in the weeks leading up to Christmas the stores are often *packed* with people buying toys, clothes, cosmetics, electronics, food, etc.

One thing that's maybe different from the US tradition is that the Christmas food takes more of the focus/centerstage of the holiday than the actual gifts part. Most families gather to eat a meal with very traditional foods and it seems people definitely put more time and effort into preparing and making the food than with the gift stuff, whereas in the US it seems the food and meals almost take a backseat to the gifts. Could vary from family to family in the US though...

Another difference is that here Christmas stretches out for something like 3-4 days as opposed to 1-1.5 days in the US. In the US, due to the diversity of the population, particularly in larger cities, you'll have businesses open on the day before Christmas or actual Christmas day since not everyone observes it. Here, since the population's homogeneous, everything is completely shut down for the 3-4 days surrounding Christmas and if you're not too into celebrating it you're SOL and have to just hole up at home and wait it out like my husband and I do every year

Oho · Post by **Oho** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 4:23 pm

Oombongo · Post by **Oombongo** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 8:05 pm

Mostly family reunions which involve:

gathering of all family members under one roof, and most probably it didn't happen like this since the last Christmas/Easter time.
Family dinner, talks etc.
Some board games.
watching that weird snowman story which has very spooky music.
Liquor starts to effect.
Conversation about a wolf in the family. There's always a bad apple.
The conversation tends to go south.
A bit of disagreements, arguments..someone tries to put out the fire while someone else tries to throw benzene in the fire.
then sleeping...

..and there is an increase in family headcount next year when someone forgets to use birth control. Remember the liquor part?

(this is usually a general plot which you can apply to any family in any part of this planet during these reunions)

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Sat Nov 16, 2013 1:53 pm

Oho wrote:

That picture is from year 1954.

riku2 · Post by **riku2** » Sun Nov 17, 2013 6:35 am

I think the level of consumerism in finland is not only lower than in the UK or USA in the run up to Christmas, but the shops are focusing on gifts and christmas food whereas I think in the USA it's a mad time for sales and shopping generally with people buying plenty of things for themselves (in a way gifts to themselves I suppose). It would be interesting to see the % of yearly sales in the pre-christmas time in Finland and the USA. I'm sure the USA figure is higher. From what i've seen people don't spend a lot on decorating their house either, plenty can just walk into their garden, cut down a small tree and bring it in. Add lights to it and there is your christmas tree. The houses are lacking the strings of cards hung up on walls, things hanging down from ceilings and other sparkly tat bought out every christmas and put in a box in the loft 12 days after.

Another major difference i've noticed between Finland and christmas in the UK is television. In the UK Christmas time is when the broadcast networks get their highest viewing figures. The best films are put on (even more so in the days before multi channel TV) and the Christmas specials of popular shows are broadcast to huge viewing figures. Newspapers will be full of "will the Doctor Who Christmas special beat the Downton Abbey Christmas special". I don't think that is true in Finland, TV bumps along with the usual fare and a few more religious type shows to remind you of the original purpose of Christmas. Viewing figures are probably lower than normal. The only exception being the president's castle party in the run up to christmas where half the population will watch three hours of the president shaking the hands of a couple of hundred people. Newspapers are dominated by the coverage as if it was a royal wedding.

AldenG · Post by **AldenG** » Sun Nov 17, 2013 5:20 pm

Just watch "Rare Exports" on Netflix, Finland's answer to The Santa Clause and Ernest Saves Christmas.

Then you'll think Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa reminds you an awful lot of Mr Rogers.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Sun Nov 17, 2013 9:31 pm

Upphew wrote: That picture is from year 1954.

Not on topic, but what has changed:
Plastic bags have been invented or at least become common place
Private car's are pretty much banished from Aleksantrinkatu (they'd look different of course as well). The traffic lights are therefore now unnecessary too.
Clothing, like hats.

Anything else?

misu · Post by **misu** » Sun Nov 17, 2013 10:48 pm

riku2 wrote: I don't think that is true in Finland, TV bumps along with the usual fare and a few more religious type shows to remind you of the original purpose of Christmas.

Could be, but I know that every Christmas day when we go to my husband's mummo's place the TV is showing It's A Wonderful Life. My husband says it's been playing on Finnish TV every Christmas for as far back as he can remember. That's one of these classic movies that is played always on US TV as well around Christmas time...It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story, etc.

Oombongo · Post by **Oombongo** » Mon Nov 18, 2013 9:27 am

I think YLE shows it during Christmas (or is it Easter..or both?). It is mandatory for everyone to see it

riku2 · Post by **riku2** » Mon Nov 18, 2013 11:14 am

misu wrote:I know that every Christmas day when we go to my husband's mummo's place the TV is showing It's A Wonderful Life.

yes but it's one thing to show the same things every year (it's a wonderful life, christmas peace from turku, that german show in english with the old woman and the butler) but what audience do they get. In the UK, shows on christmas day are getting over 10m viewers (about 20% of the population) and that's in a country where most people have 200+ channels to choose from. Do shows in Finland on Christmas day get such a large % of the population watching? I don't think people are glued to TV in finland at christmas time like in the UK (not sure about the USA since I have not spent christmas there).

Christmas in the USA does differ slightly to europe since there is thanksgiving a month before. It's my impression that thanksgiving = time with a family and a nice meal. christmas = shopping and consumerism. In Finland/UK we have only christmas which combines both activities. Independence day in Finland seems to mean nothing apart from watching the castle party on tv.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Mon Nov 18, 2013 11:33 am

Independence day in Finland seems to mean nothing apart from watching the castle party on tv.

Well, also the military parade, lighting the two candles on the window (to show a safe house for the jaegers) , the wreath layings and candles at the memorials and the B&W "Unknown Soldier" on TV.

Theres a lot of stuff that happens "all over" but is in a slightly different place. Like fireworks - in UK its 5th Nov, in Finland its New Years, in US its 4th of July ( totally mad time as Nov and Dec you're not chancing a forest fire)... Bonfires, in UK again 5th Nov, in Finland midsummer (some localities do autumn and easter too), kids dressing up and begging candy- Halloween vs. easter in Finland.

AnnabelleIeve · Post by **AnnabelleIeve** » Wed Nov 20, 2013 5:46 am

Such interesting responses

So in Finland Christmas is more family gatherings? What about parties? Like cocktails and humor, not so much a family dinner?

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