Christmas Traditions

[Millie]

wow this is interesting to read about. I didn't know about the candles on the graves. Candles on real trees is just asking for trouble. I bet it's beautiful though.

[sinikala]

The little sausages wrapped in bacon, is that an estonian tradition? They have this bloodsausage wrapped in bacon as a traditional christmas food .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigs_in_a_blanket

[zam]

wow this is interesting to read about. I didn't know about the candles on the graves. Candles on real trees is just asking for trouble. I bet it's beautiful though.

The candles won't go on trees. Usually they are put on the ground or on lantern racks. The tradition of visiting cemetaries and light candles there in Christams Eve is not a very old one, it became customary after the WW II when people "suddenly" had many past-away loved-ones to commemorate. Nowadays about 60% of Finns visit the graveyards on Christmas Eve.

In Finnish culture, the deceased have always been respected. Some features may already date back to ancient traditions where food was taken to the graves of the dead at certain times.
Today, respect for the family’s deceased members is expressed by lighting candles on the graves of the beloved, both on All Saints Day and on Christmas Eve. It is definitely worthwhile going to the churchyard to see this. A sea of candles in the memorial grove is an uplifting sight.
It tells of the longing to be connected with those who have passed away. At the same time, it proclaims that death does not have the last say. Behind death, hope of eternal life can be seen, thanks to Christ’s resurrection.

Many graveyards have also a specific place where you can bring candles to those who have been buried elsewhere. Especially these spots become seas of candles.

[onkko]

wow this is interesting to read about. I didn't know about the candles on the graves. Candles on real trees is just asking for trouble. I bet it's beautiful though.

We use electrical lights on trees nowadays, looking like candle tho (we did have real things but those werent used). There is also ones what looks like stars etc.
Im bit too far away of my relatives graves but i will put candle in war heroes grave like last christmas. 400km to fathers grave and 800km to mothers and other relatives so not possible :/
You should see graveyard with all of candles lit, beautiful.

[luckykitty]

The little sausages wrapped in bacon, is that an estonian tradition? They have this bloodsausage wrapped in bacon as a traditional christmas food .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigs_in_a_blanket

Ah yeah, the Estonians prob first just had sausages and then adopted the idea of putting blankets on them . thanks for the link.

[EP]

My candles go to the tree also. I just don´t leave them burning when I leave the room. Never had a trouble. There is water near if it catches fire, but for 30+ years it never has. People are getting too cautious nowadays: Do not pull the plastic bag over your head.

[enk]

On the 24th, we celebrating Finnish style at the MIL's: different kinds of salads (mushroom, green, rosolli),
sometimes she has gravlax, sometimes not, usually it's replaced by sliced smoked reindeer, real rye bread.
For the main course then, we have ham and the gazillions of different casseroles (except for potato, which
no one eats). There's usually a shot of some type of alcohol for the adults, but that's it for the alcohol.
Somewhere along the line she usually tries to convince at least one of us that we really need to have
some Karelian stew, too. And I usually supply the desserts, Christmas cookies from my family's traditions
like kolacky, rosettes, etc. and then joulutortut and gingerbread from the Finnish tradition.

The 25th is then supposed to be American Christmas Day and besides the rice porridge we eat in the morning,
it has nothing to do with Christmas at all in reality Basically if there's snow on the ground,
we spend most of the day outside sledding, skating and/or skiing then we come in, eat leftovers,
drink hot chocolate with marshmallows and go out for a snowball fight. This year we'll probably
be at home since the youngest one started upchucking last night.

If we're in the States for Christmas, it's always just been my family's traditions, which means
it's a melting pot of various traditions from various countries. Of course we've dumped in
some of the Finnish traditions, too: rice porridge, joulutortut and carrot and rutabaga
casserole

-enk

[Millie]

zam thanks for the pictures. They are beautiful

[Pursuivant]

Ah yeah, the Estonians prob first just had sausages and then adopted the idea of putting blankets on them

yeah, it was originally a bacon coupon rolled over a sausage coupon...

[Pursuivant]

OK, one more *modern* Christmas tradition - a flu. now this must be the *third* Christmas in a row I'm having my nose drip like a faucet... not that I wasn't feeling a bit downwind, but I can't believe my luck, getting sick for the holidays... well, now I have no excuses not to clean the house as I planned as I can't go anywhere...

[luckykitty]

Golly, well it was pretty cold today, take care of yourself Pursuivant! *hands a tissue
It was so jolly seeing a wee bit more snow outside of Helsinki tonight D for xmas eve ; )

Merry Xmas everyone!

[sinikala]

OK, one more *modern* Christmas tradition - a flu. now this must be the *third* Christmas in a row I'm having my nose drip like a faucet... not that I wasn't feeling a bit downwind, but I can't believe my luck, getting sick for the holidays... well, now I have no excuses not to clean the house as I planned as I can't go anywhere...

Yep ... us too. First time I´ve ever been sick at Christmas and it sucks... which is why I´m up typing at this ungodly hour ... I can´t breathe :-<

... but the missus has it far worse... she´s had it for the last 5 days, so bad that we cancelled going to the in-laws in Hki

Still... it´s a good worker that is sick on their own time.

[enk]

Well hopefully this doesn't turn into a Christmas tradition, but we ended up going to
the MIL's despite the youngest one being sick. He laid on the couch, asked other
people to open his presents for him and then when we put him to bed, he started
talking nonsense and staring into empty space, so off to Jorvi we went. They were
wonderful there, got him rehydrated again and took a bunch of tests. We'll find
out the day after tomorrow what's wrong with him. I'm betting rotavirus since he's
the only one out of the bunch who hasn't had it, but his high fever is contradictory
to the normal symptoms, so who knows.

But a Merry Christmas to all, even at this hour And may those who are sick
feel better tomorrow

-enk

[luckykitty]

Hope your son gets well soon!
Hope everyone gets well soon! I guess finally the weather has changed to colder ... I think its quite surprising cos it looks more of less the same as last week, like snow, no snow, a bit of snow, no snow... its just suddenly colder now brr

[Pursuivant]

Still... it´s a good worker that is sick on their own time.

thats what I was saying last night... darn, ain't the stuffing supposed to be in de turkey and not in me head?