We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!! It was quite strange being away from our crazy holiday schedule and traditions, but was also a nice and peaceful time for us. Things seem to really shut down here, and I guess as they should so that everyone can spend time with family. We had to make sure and load up on groceries...most everything is closed 24th-26th. Something us Americans are not used to.
This year was a bit more fun now that Harris is catching on to Santa. He definitely recognizes Santa, but still a little young to connect him with bringing gifts. Harris and I were in line at the grocery just a few days ago when a lady behind us was dressed in red and white. He pointed to her and said "Santa Claus". Yeah buddy, you got the colors right but she might be missing a white beard and a big belly! Although we didn't hire a Santa to come and hand out Harris' gifts on Christmas Eve (a Finnish tradition), we had fun playing the part. Matt worked on the race track and I put the easel together while we watched White Christmas (our favorite).
Christmas Day was very relaxing! We played Christmas music while Harris opened his gifts and Matt cooked breakfast. After about 10 cups of coffee and watching Harris play for a while, we decided to get out and play in the snow. Somehow we always seem to pick the days that Harris doesn't nap to play in the snow, which then leads to a dramatic melt down. Oh well, maybe this weekend we'll be lucky.
The weekend after Christmas was again lazy and relaxing. Sue and Travis invited us over for some Finnish Christmas treats on Saturday afternoon. Glogg and ginger cookies with blue cheese were just a few. "Glogg" is a hot red drink (like our wassail). We enjoyed our visit with them and hearing of their Russian/Finnish experiences. We got out on Sunday to experience a reindeer sleigh ride. Our two short laps costs us a whopping 30 euros! Oh well, the experience was fun and Harris thought it was cool. He even got to feed the reindeer (what looked like moss?). Matt and I were surprised at how small they seemed. Really pretty animals though and of course impressive antlers!
Our New Year's Eve was exciting as they had a fireworks display right outside of our apartment building. We could see all the action from our windows (and we were warm!). Harris of course was super fired up about all of the lights and booms.
And so that was our holiday run of action. Link to Christmas pictures below. Also, I have copied and pasted a description of Finnish Christmas traditions below if you are interested...
Love to all,
Stacy
http://flic.kr/s/aHsjDvvCqs
Christmas traditions in Finland are centered on the home and family. The sense of warmth of the family home and the merriment of the season are accentuated amidst the harsh reality of a far north winter.
Finland is the home of Santa, and every Finnish child knows that Santa lives on the Mountain of Korvatunturi in the town of Savukoski. This town is in the northern section of Finland called Lapland. There are many many reindeer in Lapland and, after all, Why wouldn't Santa live where his reindeer are?
The standard fare for a Christmas eve breakfast is rice pudding. Thick and Creamy, it is served hot and topped with cinnamon, sugar and other spices. What a yummy way to serve a hot meal that will warm them throughout their morning excursions. Papa and the children will go and get the tree. With a bit of shopping left to be done, Mama heads to the market early for all the stores will close at noon.
Porridge is a standard for Christmas Eve lunch (with a hidden almond in it - the finder has to sing a song.) If you have gotten a chill thinking about Christmas in the frozen country of Finland, perhaps you will warm up a bit when you hear that everyone in Finland, after lunch, heads out to take the sauna bath. This sounds like one of the best Christmas traditions in Finland (maybe in the whole world) What a nice way to ease tensions before guests come to dinner. Dinner, of course, is a sumptuous feast. There is ham or
pork roast, casseroles with carrots and rice, or rutabaga. Several kinds of fish including herring and cod, lots of whole grain breads, prune tarts, and berry pudding. The holiday drink is glogg, which is a mulled wine.
About 5 or 6 o'clock, families go to the cemeteries to leave candles on the graves of loved ones who won't be there to celebrate Christmas any longer. Thousands of flickering light, reflecting against the snow and trees create a memorable scene.
Not to forget the true meaning of Christmas, it is a custom in some families to read aloud the Christmas gospel by St. Luke, describing the events at the time of the birth of Jesus. If there are young children present, the reading is usually done by the youngest literate child.
A bit later in the evening there is a knocking at the door,
Joulupukki Santa has arrived. unfortunately papa misses his arrival because he had to go do the evening chores.
Joulupukki boldly asks," Are there any good children in the house".Of course there always is, and Santa never misses handing out presents. The children love to sing
Joulupukki Laula or
Peteir Punakuono (Rudolph) or other such songs to him, before he leaves to visit the rest of the world.
Christmas day except for morning services is strictly a stay at home family day and very quiet.
After the Christmas holidays, it is time to get prepared to welcome the New Year. Christmas time ends with Epiphany, January 6th. By this day, most people have already put away the Christmas ornaments and stripped down and thrown out the Christmas tree.
