Despite the modern times we live in, Christmas in Finland is all about traditions that have been passed down through generations. Unlike most Christian countries where Christmas Day, December 25th, is the primary day of the Christmas celebrations, Finnish families traditionally gather together for festivities on Christmas Eve, December 24th.

It’s also the day when the most famous person living in Finland, Santa Claus, visits well-behaved Finnish children with his sleigh full of Christmas presents.

What else happens in Finnish homes on Christmas Eve each year? Let’s take a little sneak peek into a traditional Christmas in Finland.

Christmas preparations; the lights, the decorations, the flavours

Setting the Christmas spirit begins earlier each year. Christmas carols take over shop aisles, Christmas lights illuminate the darkening streets, millions of Christmas cards are sent to friends and family members, Christmas Markets are held, and sing-along Christmas concerts are organised all over Finland. Soon the approaching holiday season is visible in Finnish homes, too; colourful Christmas lights illuminate the gardens together with candles and ice lanterns, and the houses will be decorated with Santa’s Elves, reindeers, wreaths and Finns’ favourite Christmas flowers, poinsettia and hyacinth. With the delicious smell of gingerbread cookies and Christmas tarts floating in the air, Christmas Eve can finally arrive.

Photo: Visit Finland / Jari Kurvinen (Vastavalo)

Bringing in and decorating the Christmas tree

Bringing in and decorating the Christmas tree is one of the oldest Finnish Christmas traditions that has remained almost unchanged since the 1800s. This year approximately 1,5 million Christmas trees will adorn Finnish households all over the country. For many Finnish families decorating the Christmas tree is the first thing to do in the morning of Christmas Eve as an official beginning of the best day of the year (especially if you ask children). The Christmas tree is often placed in front of a window to spread joy and Christmas spirit also among the people passing by.

Enjoying a hot bowl of Christmas porridge – but who will find the almond?

Another Finnish Christmas tradition dating back to the 1800s is Christmas porridge, traditionally made of rice and milk. Typically Christmas porridge is served with sugar, cinnamon and milk but can also be enjoyed with prunes, apricots or cloudberries. This traditional Christmas Eve breakfast includes one special ingredient: an almond. According to the tradition, good luck will follow the person finding the almond on their plate.

Photo: Visit Finland / Ingela Nyman (Vastavalo)

The Declaration of Christmas Peace

At noon on Christmas Eve, the whole of Finland freezes when Christmas Peace is declared in several Finnish cities. The most popular and well-known event takes place at the Old Great Square in Turku where thousands of Finns gather to listen to the declaration every year. The ones who can’t make it to the gathering may follow the live broadcast on television or radio. This is the moment when the whole of Finland truly gets peaceful; shops will close their doors, and even the public transport gets quieter. Some shops will be shut throughout Christmas Day and Boxing Day, which is good to remember when spending your first Christmas in Finland.

Honouring the deceased

Another Finnish Christmas Eve tradition is to pay a visit to the graveyard and light candles on the graves of the past loved ones. At Christmas, all cemeteries from North to South are illuminated with thousands and thousands of candles. The stunning sea of candles in the dark December night is a sight not to miss.

Christmas sauna – a tradition truly unique to Finland

Christmas sauna is another ancient Christmas tradition Finns aren’t willing to forget. According to some studies, 80 per cent of all Finns go to the sauna on Christmas Eve. Some even state that the lack of Christmas Sauna might ruin the whole holiday. In some families, the sauna is heated up twice during the day; first before dinner and again late at night.

Photo: Visit Finland / Harri Tarvainen

There’s no meal like Christmas dinner

After (the first) Christmas Sauna, it’s time for another Christmas Eve highlight; the dinner. Finns value traditional Christmas food with slowly-roasted ham being the king of the dinner table. Even if a vegetarian diet is becoming more and more popular, Finns still consume 6-7 million kilos of ham over Christmas. Besides the Christmas ham, also potatoes, casseroles, meatballs, fish and mixed beetroot salad are included in the traditional Christmas dinner – not to forget chocolate, Christmas pastries and gingerbread cookies, of course.

‘Are there any well-behaved children in the house?’

Tummies full of Christmas treats, it’s finally time to gather around the fireplace, relax on the sofa and enjoy some glögi, a traditional hot Christmas drink similar to Mulled Wine.

Suddenly, a gentle knock on the door breaks the silence. It’s followed by a sentence familiar to all kids in Finland; ‘Are there any well-behaved children in the house?’

Who else could it be but Santa, the most awaited Christmas guest in all families worldwide and the one final highlight of a memorable Christmas in Finland.

Photo: Visit Finland / Jani Kärppä & Flatlight Films

Did you know that more than 300,000 tourists travel to Finland in December? Find the perfect rental cottage on Gofinland and start planning your white Christmas in Finnish Lapland now.

Hyvää joulua!

This is the story of Sebastian’s journey to Finland and our wonderful culture where nature and spending time in summer cottages are essential .

Straight after arriving in Helsinki we got our rental car and drove north. Ahead of us was a 10 day journey through the southern part of Finland. My expectations of this beautiful country were fulfilled immediately after leaving the city and entering the remote nature of Finland. We drove for around 3 hours north, one hour was driving on a gravel road straight into the forest until we reached our cottage directly at lake.

A Finnish BBQ in the forest.

After a day of hiking and exploring the area we finished the day by making a campfire on a hill with views over the lake. To be honest, I couldn’t imagine a better place for a fire. The nature and the remoteness of that place even made it more beautiful. A cold beer and some sausages on the stick really made a perfect evening.

Amazing view on the National Park of Repovesi

After leaving the remote cottage behind, we made our way to explore Repovesi National Park. In the park there are a lot of hiking trails and some great views over lakes and forests. There are also some campgrounds, where families spent the night. Unfortunately we didn’t bring our own tent, so we had to leave the park at dawn to sleep in our B&B.

Roadtripping in Finland

After another night at a campfire at the B&B Pinus in Mäntyharju, we made our way more north to Koli National Park where we stayed on a farm for 2 nights. The view from the top of Koli National Park was even more breathtaking than the views we saw before. After a good day of hiking, we had one of the best burgers ever at Kolin Ryynanen, close to the park.

Scenic sunset in Finland.

On our way to the West Coast we stopped at another cottage directly at a lake. As many times before in Finland we were all by ourself. We took out the paddle boat for a sunset cruise before sitting at the warm campfire again.

Lovely view from pier. Time to jump in!

The west coast was a bit disappointing. There was no road directly at the sea and we missed our days at the lakes so much, that we headed back inwards on our way back down south to Helsinki.

Helsinki City overview.

Our last couple of nights we spent on an organic farm with an awesome breakfast. Holidays in Finland is pure nature and relaxation. If you want a lot of action, this is the wrong place. But if you are looking for untouched nature and wilderness, this is one of the best places I have visited so far.

Helsinki is a charming capital, with lots of good bars, restaurants and great cultural activities. I liked Finland so much, that I came back a couple of months later to see it in autumn. The weather was more moody but definitely as beautiful as in summer.

Sebastian made a short video while exploring Finland. In the video Sebastian experiences the Finnish nature and cottage culture at the fullest.  It’s worth checking out. Sebastian creates fantastic short films about traveling in different locations and takes quite spectacular photos while traveling!

You can follow Sebastian in Instagram: sebpic_

Text: Pekka Krook, photographs: Sauna From Finland / Hanna Söderström

Meik Wiking, the Danish happiness researcher, is known for the term “Hygge” because of his bestseller book “Hygge – the book of good life“. The book contains the ten-point Hygge Manifesto, which highlights the importance of gratitude. The writer sums up gratitude with an expression, “maybe there’s nothing better than this”. Do we remember to be grateful for everything we have in our lives?

As a sauna specialist and the Chairman of the Board of Sauna from Finland, my aim is to develop as relaxing sauna experience as possible. Sauna has always been almost a sacred place in Finland – a place where you can clean your body and mind after a hard day’s work. Genuine Finnish sauna experience is based on well-being and relaxation that is complemented by the purity and safety of the saunas.

We are happy to see that so many foreign travellers want to experience an authentic Finnish sauna during their holiday. To have a sauna is a multi-faceted experience: the visual sensations, for example a view to the sea or a lake from the sauna window, play an important role. The water evaporating over the heater breaks the silence and makes it a soulful experience.

The wooden sauna bench is pleasant for the skin and can be supplemented with a linen cloth for extra comfort. You can also use a birch whisk or a sauna aroma to make you feel even more comfortable. Peeling sauna honey can be applied to the skin and beautiful lights complement the mood.

For me, a daily sauna ritual is the best way to relax in the middle of the hustle. While having a sauna, I often note how grateful I am for my life. A lot of tricky problems are being solved while I am resting in the heat. After the sauna, I use to wear a bathrobe and have a healthy meal or a refreshing drink. My daily ritual culminates in a quiet, deep sleep of eight hours. The long sleep guarantees the strength and energy for the next day.

As Henry Thoreau once said, “we live but a fraction of our lives”. Let’s grab a hold of as many fractions as we can!

Pekka Krook, Chairman of the Board of Sauna from Finland Association. For more information, check http://saunafromfinland.fi/

Cover photo by Visit Finland

Easter in Finland is an exciting mix of flavours, history and traditions. The religious roots of the Christian feast are still visible today. Besides celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, Easter in Finland is all about welcoming the long-awaited spring after the dark and cold winter months. It’s often considered as planting the seeds for happiness and health for the approaching summer season.

No, absolutely not! Did you know that winter swimming can keep you in a good shape? More than 150,000 Finns are enjoying this activity on a regular basis during the season. All you need is a swimsuit and a hole in the ice of a frozen lake, river or pond.

It is a sport that has been practiced more in the past by elderly people but it is now gaining terrain also among younger generations. If you fancy trying new things, this post is for you.

3,3 millions! This is the most recent number of existing saunas in Finland. Ain’t that enough to express how important the Finnish sauna culture is for Finns?

Our modern urban way of life has changed the way we resource ourselves. But from Helsinki city center to Nuorgam, the northernmost village in Finland, every Finn remain loyal to one thing: The Finnish sauna tradition.

Do you want to know more about it?

Finland has four very distinguished seasons and they all have their own perks. Maybe that’s why we don’t have so distinguished travel seasons. People want to experience different sides of Finland and they plan their trips according to that.

Most traveling peaks happen during Finnish holidays, like Christmas and school holidays. Finns usually have one week off in the wintertime and that’s called the skiing holiday. In the summer adults usually have four weeks off and school kids a few weeks more.

However, high season doesn’t mean that everything is fully booked and the attractions are unavailable due overcrowding! Skiing holidays are held different weeks at different regions, so even though the ski centers are busy, they aren’t full. The summer vacations spread pretty well over the whole summer and Finns tend to spend them at the summer cottage anyways.

The biggest tourist season is around Christmas and new year, when especially the Russian tourists are traveling to Finnish ski resorts. The other Finnish seasons are not that crowded, but there is no reason why they should be! Let me tell you why.

The midsummer celebration is an important event in the Finnish calendar. This festivity, which takes place on Friday and Saturday from the 19th to 26th of June depending on the year, is synonymous with good food, the midnight sun, bonfires and party.

So let’s dive in to see what you can expect from the midsummer party à la finlandaise.

There is a great amount of events going on in summer all around Finland. Wherever you go, you will find opportunities to meet with the locals and have an enjoyable time.
From the funniest Wife Carrying Championship to the intriguing Silence Festival, there are events for every taste. Here is a list of 5 cultural events to add on your list when visiting Finland during your summer holidays.

Air Guitar World Championships

Photo: Juuso Haarala

Have you ever dreamed to play guitar on stage in front of a boiling crowd? Then you should stop by the city of Oulu and join the Air Guitar World Championships.
Last year the event celebrated in the end of August its 20th birthday! Cool music, great atmosphere and a funny show guaranteed!
Even countries like India, Latvia and Kazakhstan have their own national championships and are meeting with Finnish competitors in Oulu to join the show.

The event website: http://www.airguitarworldchampionships.com/

This year the World Championships happens in Oulu from the 24th to the 26th of August 2016. In 2015, a Russian Kereel Blumenkrants won the competition. So will you be the next Air Guitar hero?
To stay in the Oulu area we recommend you to look at our cottage selection. Hailuoto, for example, is a great place to stay in summer; you could even stay in an old lighthouse!

The Silence Festival

The small village of Kaukonen in Lapland is welcoming visitors to take part in a fascinating event: the Silence Festival. If arts and local culture is your thing, this is the place to be from the 8th to 11th of June 2016.

This year, the festival offers a diverse programme. You can watch circus performances, listen to classical music, talk about philosophy, and more. Make sure not to miss the festival opening ceremony, for the special show planned on the Ounas river. Moreover, the program is suitable for the whole family.

The event happens in the magical Villa Magia surroundings. The building is an old and traditional farmhouse renovated by the artist Milla Magia.

This place is right besides the river Ounas in an idyllic location. There you can also buy handicrafts like ceramics, jewelleries and textiles, designed by Milla. Lapland summer atmosphere is special. During this festival you get interesting perspectives and experience something different. We warmly recommend it!

The event website: https://www.hiljaisuusfestivaali.fi/about/

Looking for a place to stay during the event? Check out our offering:

The Midnight Sun Film Festival

Photo: Sini Juutilainen

The Midnight Sun Film Festival is already well-known among cinema fans around the globe. Its small size and location of the town, and the fact that you can watch movies 24h a day, make it really unique of its kind.

Originally created by the Kaurismäki brothers, the festival will now celebrate its 31st birthday.

Last year, Sodankylä welcomed more than 30 000 visitors to watch great films. The public can also interact with their creators face-to-face during conferences.Film directors, actors, and new talents are captivating the audience in a relaxed and informal way. All this happens every year in the heart of Lapland, 120 km above the Arctic Circle.

To learn more about the Festival, take a look at the website: http://www.msfilmfestival.fi/index.php/en/

If you plan to be there, here is a well-rounded list of accommodations:

The Flow Festival

(c) Jussi Hellsten www.jussihellsten.com

This music festival is a great mix of modern arts, music, and hand picked food. All these ingredients together allow you to enjoy the diversity of performances.
This year, the event has a large panel of artists from the legendary Massive Attack to upcoming musicians. Concerts and performances are taking place from the 12th to 14th of August 2016 in Suvilahti. It is only a few minutes away from the city center by metro.

There, you will find more than 10 different stages. You can choose from large outdoor tents to intimate indoor venues.
One of the most impressive stage is the gigantic balloon with a 360º stage. It creates a new interaction genre for both artists and the crowd.
You can’t miss it!

Check this year programme: http://www.flowfestival.com/

For suggestions of accommodations in the capital, we’ve got you covered:

Find your cottage in the Helsinki region

Ruis Rock

Each year, the city of Turku welcomes international and Finnish rock musicians to a huge gathering. The Ruis Rock festival is one of the oldest in Europe. It takes place right at the doors of the beautiful Finnish archipelago.

It is also a unique opportunity to discover local artists and have a good slice of Finnish rock music. The festival will happen from the 8th to 10th of July in Ruissalo Park. Besides of music, you can enjoy street art, circus and puppets theatre performances.

Click here to see the 2016 programme: http://www.ruisrock.fi/en/program/

If you stay longer in the area, we recommend you to take a tour in the Archipelago and explore the islands by cruise boats, or bicycles. Don’t miss places like Kimitö Island, Örö Fortress island or Hanko.

If you fancy a stay in cottage with a sea view, here is the place to look for it:

These 5 events will definitely give a nice twist to your stay in Finland. Festivals are best to enjoy the summer season among locals and international crowds. They are best to share great moments with friends or families. So come and join us!

Find your cottage in the Turku region