My last post was about my thoughts about Christmas and my traditions, so I thought I’d continue a little bit more with the same topic, and tell a little bit about my last Christmas! 🙂 This time more as a photo diary! 🙂 The photos here are all #nofilter and taken without thinking anything at all. I hope it also gives you this ”real” feeling, as they are very, well, ”real” and non-edited or staged etc 🙂

I’ll include a little bit pre-Christmas pictures as well! 🙂 Just before Christmas I was in Turku, which is one of the places in Finland where I have lived. Even though I still had a bit of a flu going on, it was so nice to see some of my friends who are living there (and their furry friends ! <3)

Couple of days before Christmas making gingerbreads in Helsinki! Me and two of my friends have a tradition of making gingerbreads together before Christmas! This time one of them was in India, but thanks to the nowadays technology we had a video connection with her! ;P

Just before Christmas me and my sister went to REDI which is quite a new shopping center in Helsinki. I’m not a ”huge fan” of shopping centers (as I prefer to buy things second hand and so on), but it was nice to see it since there had been quite a lot of talk about that place… Before heading to the supermarket we had amazing burger at Bun2Bun and then went for some hot chocolate and gingerbread latte with the last Christmas food planning!

Helsinki and Christmas lights

Me using the Christmas sweater I gave my sister last Christmas 😀 (I only had that one on for a short time, I was mostly using my own Christmas sweater but somehow didn’t have it there :P). But how cute is this one too!

On Christmas Eve we had that rice porridge I was talking about in my previous post and Christmas sauna at my sister’s place, it looked so lovely there!

One of my ”Christmas looks” (and Christmassy sweater here too! :D). Christmas earrings and Christmas nails too, because well, why not? 😛

As said earlier, my pictures are quite random. I didn’t ”plan to” take those, I just took those, and now when I look at those they look nice to me because it reminds me of those moments, but I guess those are bit random… I mean here is a picture of my dad’s plate before he had anything but salad there… 😀

I think I get something wrapped in this paper every year – we always reuse the wrapping papers, or recycle if those cannot be used anymore

I didn’t get this beer, but I loved the bottle!

Then on Christmas day it was time to leave Helsinki – hello countryside!

I was walking on the frozen lake (and my sister was sitting at our pier (I don’t think I have ever used this word in English btw :D)

After visiting our summer cottage we went to my aunt’s family’s place, where we had some very happy (and enthusiastic) little ones welcoming us

Finnish countryside views are probably my favourite views in this planet

It’s either my sister, or an elf walking to the stable

And look who we saw there! And all them horses had their own Christmas trees as well! (This is my sister’s picture btw 😉 ). Btw I always thought all the Finnhorses are more or less like this, but recently I found out it’s not the case! If you want to see how they can also look like, check out this amazing article!

This is for the ones who understands Finnish (and who can see this :D), I agree with this text so much!

I love reading Christmas cards, I loved this one because it also said ”magical”, like I said one million times in my previous post 😀

I got this Moomin Mug as a Christmas present, it’s the special one for this winter, love it (and only used that one on Christmas days!). Looking at this picture makes me almost taste the gingerbread coffee in my mouth, so good and so Christmassy!

As said in the previous post, on the 26th of December (I almost wrote Christmas, I guess I’m bit tired, and full of Christmassy thoughts 😀 And also, in Finnish December is literally ”Christmas month” = joulukuu 🙂 ) we go to sing Christmas carols with my mom! 🙂 (And my Christmas nails got a bit of a transformation – I was making the dishes and afterwards they were more like a ”French manicure” of some kind 😀

Here is some of my Christmas present that I received! I never receive a ”crazy amount” of presents and I guess never have, but I think quality over quantity! And there’s way too much stuff in the world anyways, so I prefer not to get any ”crazy amounts” 😀 Everything that I got was so nice and so thoughtful, really warmed my heart! Oh and I did also get a new grey scarf (as I lost my previous one in Hamburg), it’s bit different than the previous one, but I love it (and it’s a Finnish one!)

One of the cutest Christmas windows in Helsinki in my opinion!

In the end I want to give some of my ”tips and tricks” for that ”peaceful and magical Christmas”.

So:

Tip #1: Turn off the wifi/mobile data and skip social media and scrolling on the electronic devices. There is 365 days in the year, so if you spend 3 days without being active on social media, you still have 362 days to do whatever you want in the world of internet. This is only my suggestion, but in my opinion it makes a huge difference, so I really recommend to try it! It also gives you a bit of this ”old-fashioned” feeling – you know times before all the smartphones and so on – and I totally love it! I actually really like Christmas to be a bit ”old-fashioned” so it goes well with that mentality! 🙂

If you understand Finnish and read the article I included in this post, there was talk about the importance of ”boredom” and I totally agree. Life is so hectic that it’s only good to get a bit ”bored” every now and then, in a good kind of way.

And the feeling of being present, and only present and nowhere else at the same time, not in a virtual world, but just here and now, it’s great and in my opinion very ”Christmassy”. Actually before this Christmas I was asking myself that do I really need to/want to do this this year as well, since in 2018 I had a lot of times without internet and so on (I was even living without internet a while in Poland). But few days before Christmas the answer was clear: yes, I needed a break. A Christmas. Just being present. Somehow before Christmas I felt I “had to” spend a lot of time steering at my phone and sending messages and replying to messages – of course it’s nice to catch up and being in contact with friends… But I don’t know, enough is also enough. And sometimes less is more, like in Christmas – less digital devices, and more candles and books and chocolate – yes please! And you know, sometimes we need a break also from the good things – I’m not saying social media or being in contact with your friends is bad, but a break from everything does wonders as well.

Tip #2: Have as little lights on as possible and instead of “normal lights” use candles and Christmas lights etc. So atmospheric, and totally makes the “magical atmosphere” 😉

Tip #3: I suggest not to do any ”normal things” such as going to a supermarket etc. This is actually very related to the #1, but in my opinion during Christmas is better to skip all ”normal” things – for example instead of ”normal” breakfast eat more Christmassy breakfast! 🙂

Tip #4: Relax and enjoy! Really. Don’t stress how things should be, how things were last year, what kind of Christmas that cool girl in Instagram is having/had… No, no, no! The more you let go of any pressure, and simple enjoy… The happier you’ll be 🙂 A lot of people put a huge amount of pressure to Christmas (without doing it on purpose necessarily), and I get that – Christmas comes only once in a year and we simply want it to be “perfect” and “magical” – but the best way of it to be somewhere close to “perfect” and “magical is when you LET GO! And relax and enjoy. Just like that. And with relaxing I don’t (only) mean reading a book and eating a pile of chocolate, but cooking and other preparations can be (and should be) relaxing and fun when everyone just CHILLS and enjoys.

Tip #5: Christmas music (and Christmas movies). I was listening to Christmas songs way before Christmas, usually at work I was listening from Spotify Christmas Hits, but the best kind of music is in my opinion for example Finnish Christmas radio, Jouluradio.fi or this list on Spotify!

And as mentioned in my previous post, there are several Christmas movies that I love and those helps to get into that Christmas mood as well!

If you have some other tips and tricks, or anything else to comment, please do so! Much love to everyone!

xx Aino

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 😛 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? 😀 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 😀

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