My kind of Christmas?

Christmas is already tomorrow! I wanted to write a blog post about Christmas – or actually there would have been many things I would have wanted to write regarding Christmas, but when you’re working 9 to 5, have a terrible flu and also want to spend some time with friends and family… Well, I’m sure you know. 🙂 But now the flu is (finally!) over, so I thought I’d write a little Christmas post!

A lot of people have been asking me how I’m going to spend Christmas, and actually 99% of people asking have asked if we’re going to spend it at our summer cottage… So, I thought I’d tell you how I’m spending my Christmas!

Will I spend it at our summer cottage? Well, not really. We have no running water or electricity there (it’s really more for summer use). But once we did spend Christmas there, and that for sure was Christmas to remember, and even though it was “a bit” extreme it was also so atmospheric and so amazing!

(These pictures below are few years ago when we did spend Christmas at our summer cottage!)

In Finland Christmas Eve (24.12.) is absolutely the main day of Christmas. Usually people start the day with rice porridge, and there’s one almond in the porridge – the one who finds it on her/his porridge will have good luck! :) Then most of the people listens from radio or watch from TV The Declaration of Christmas Peace (or go to see it, if they happen to spend their Christmas in Turku). I used to live in Turku, and once my family came to Turku, I had made the rice porridge, so we ate that and after that we went to see The Declaration of Christmas Peace, and after that we drove home to Helsinki. :) So what is this Christmas Peace? It basically means that after that everyone should calm down and be kind to each and everyone, forget hurries and worries and simple enjoy Christmas. It’s kinda like official declaration, now we have Christmas. Or, this is at least how I see it :P Earlier I think it really meant that in case you did crimes during Christmas peace time you got bigger sanctions, but I’m not sure about this. Anyways, we in Finland take Christmas quite seriously, for us it’s very holy and special time. It doesn’t mean there’s no joy and laughter, but it’s just… Well, I tend to use the word magical, but it really feels magical, holy and special time. Different from other times, perhaps that’s why I also don’t use social media etc. on Christmas – I somehow feel Christmas is so holy, that I don’t want to use my phone (well, maybe I use it to take some pictures, but not to scroll on social media).

Besides The Declaration of Christmas Peace there are many traditional things to watch from TV, for example The Snowman (and now there is also The Snowman and the Snowdog). I love to watch Christmas movies, as I already said in Instagram It’s a Wonderful Life is an absolute must to watch every Christmas, and my second favorite Christmas movie is The Holiday.

Watching Christmas movies

But what else do we do on Christmas Eve? Maybe decorate the Christmas tree, if not done earlier, and maybe put some more Christmas decorations all in all. Sometimes we have a “Christmas sauna” as many people in Finland do. We eat a lot, listen to Christmas songs all day (I especially love the bit melancholic Finnish ones, such as Sylvian joululaulu and Varpunen jouluaamuna).

I have heard some people saying that Christmas is “holiday for children”. I don’t really agree with this one, or I mean, it’s a holiday for EVERYONE and everyone should spend it how ever they want. For children it can be more playful, fun and full of elves, but then again for adults it’s more peaceful, magical, relaxing and all that jazz.

In Finland it’s really common to visit the graveyard during Christmas, it’s really beautiful especially if there’s snow, you can just imagine the view with a lot of snow and a lot of candles… (this is how it looks like). In my family we don’t really have a tradition to do this, even though I like the idea of remembering all the close ones, also the ones that are no longer here with us. But overall this is very common in Finland.

In Finland we open the Christmas present on Christmas Eve, so that’s also one activity on that day. Otherwise we maybe play some board games, eat a lot of different chocolates and other Christmas treats. I personally just want to take it supereasy on Christmas days and simple relax! Maybe read some new book wearing comfy pyjama :)

One Christmas we made ”vegan salmon” (porkkala in Finnish), so yammy (and really tastes similar to salmon!)

Then on Christmas Day we always go to countryside, and I absolutely love it! My dad is from countryside and I have many times said that I might have more “countryside-heart” than “city-heart”. But I like them both, and I must say Helsinki and other Finnish cities and towns are soo cute on Christmas times! All the lights and decorations, so atmospheric!

But still, I’m always so happy to hop into car and get to countryside! We usually do visit our summer cottage and after that go to our relatives where we then pretty much spend the entire day, the main activity being eating all those Christmas foods. They also have (Finnish!) horses and (Finnish!) dogs, what a paradise! So that’s our Christmas Day, a day trip to countryside! :)

Last Christmas when visiting our summer cottage

On 26th of December I continue chilling and watching Christmas movies, reading, eating… But then me and my mom have a tradition of going to sing Christmas Carols to one cute and old church in Helsinki. On our way we can just admire all the beautiful Christmas lights and Christmas windows, especially in Stockman department store they always have amazing Christmas window(s)!

Christmas times at Helsinki some years ago

I love Christmas traditions, but I’m not super strict with those. I mean I would be open for other kind of Christmases as well – buuut nothing too excotic… I could for example spend Christmas on Åland islands, I think it would be so amazing to rent a cute red house/cottage there and spend Christmas there! Or spend Christmas on some cottage in Finnish countryside. I have spent two Christmases outside of Finland and well… Not really “my cup of tea” :D. But never say never, but if I can choose I guess my voice will always be Christmas in Finland. I’m such a Christmas person and for me it’s not really Christmas if it’s not in Finland. Even if there wouldn’t be snow, as long as I’m in Finland for Christmas, I’m happy.

During the Christmas time it’s really so magical in Finland (especially if there is snow), I think it’s also the darkness that makes everything so beautiful and magical! You can have candles and Christmas lights… I just love it! And without Christmas Finnish winter would be quite rough – Christmas is on perfect time to bring some light and love to the darkest of time! I guess in many countries, but also in Finland Christmas is not only related with religion, instead it existed way before and now it’s a combination of different things. For example my family doesn’t belong to church, so for us the decorations and so on are more about elves etc. and well, nothing really related to religion. But I have nothing against things related to church, for example Christmas songs that are a bit religious, usually I really like those, for me those are simply beautiful. And as I said me and my mom even go to church to sing the Christmas carols, I’m sure this might sound weird to someone, but for me it’s totally ok.

But as said, I love the way I’m spending Christmas, but I could spend it other ways as well. For example I wouldn’t mind spending it with friends – or maybe I should spend “another Christmas” with friends during New Year’s, then we could go to some remote cottage on Åland islands or somewhere in Finnish countryside, ok friends, who’s in? :D But really, I know Christmas is not necessarily so fun time to everyone, that’s why I wouldn’t mind spending it sometimes with some friends who maybe don’t have very happy and enjoyable Christmas always. And to be honest, if I for some reason should spend Christmas alone, I wouldn’t even mind. I’m sure it would be magical, I would have candles, good food (and probably way too much chocolate) and I’d watch all the Christmas movies and drink some glögi (Finnish version of mulled wine)… I think Christmas spirit is mostly in everyone’s own attitude, in one famous Finnish Christmas song it says “Joulumaa jos jokaiselta löytyy sydämestä”, which could be translated for example “Christmas land can be found from everyone’s heart”. This song (Joulumaa) btw used to be my favourite Christmas song when I was younger!

Well, that’s “shortly” about my Christmas traditions! How are you spending Christmas? I have friends all over the world, so I would be curious to hear how you like to spend your Christmas?

I don’t know for how many years, but this reindeer decoration has now been part of our Christmas cake decorations for quite some time :D

Love and kisses to everyone and I’m wishing you a peaceful Christmas – and most of all that kind of Christmas you like – whatever it is!

xx Aino