Stick two Finns and an Austrian together in a room and they’ll talk for three hours straight – it’s true! Finns do talk! (Just kidding 😉 )
But I’ll start at the very beginning:
When I met Veera and Heta right after the EOTO introduction to discuss what we want to cover during the next weeks, we immediately connected. I remember talking to them for almost two hours but it didn’t feel like two hours at all. So we decided to meet the week after to talk about introducing oneself in German as well as Finnish Christmas and Easter holidays, as I want do set the focus on getting to know Finnish culture better.
So, on our first meeting we started with German introductory sentences and pronunciation where Heta and Veera complained about the sloppy pronunciation of the German “r”. On the other hand, the Finnish “r” is just as difficult, just so you know 😉 But to be honest, they were really good at pronouncing and repeating sentences.
After that, I got a chance to ask them everything about holidays in Finnland, especially Christmas. Literally. Everything. I don’t know why, but they answered every redicioulus question of mine with such commitment, which I really appreciate.
Ok, so, here’s what I learned, starting with important words:
joulupukki – Santa Claus
joulukuusi – Christmas tree
joululahja – Christmas present
joulupuuro – Christmans porridge
tähti – star
lumi – snow (BUT! there are different kinds of snow, so lumi doesn’t really express anything )
Runebergintorttu – Runeberg cake
Mämmi – rye pudding
Finnish cristmas is quite different than Austrian christmas. First of all there is joulupukki, who doesn’t live on the North Pole but in Finnland (so don’t get fooled by anyone telling you anything different, it’s a lie). He visits children and brings presents, or he’s being payed by parents to bring presents – either way, he’s a symbol of Christmas children believe in.
Also, there is pikkuloulu, which means “small christmas”. Basically this means, quote: “getting dressed nicely, going to a bar with your friends und getting drunk”. At these get togethers friends exchange little presents like snow globes, sweets, legal pads or pens. These pikkuloulut usually take place some time before Christmas and the amout of meetings depend on the amount of friends. But pikkuloulu doesn’t nessecarily end up in a bar. It is also perfectly fine to stay at home with your kids, light candles and bake Christmas cookies.
There is also the tradition of eating Christmas porridge, which consists of rice and an almond. Yes, one. The person who finds the almond in his/her bowl is supposed to be lucky for one year. But there are also families who put a lot of almonds in the porridge and the one who gets the most, will be the lucky one. I’ve heard that there is also some serious almond trading going on, but I won’t dig into that.
And the sauna – yes, there is always a sauna. Please, are in Finnland. Nothing more to add.
Oh, and they told me about Runeberg cake because we met three days prior Runeberg’s day. Runeberg was a poet who wrote the national anthem and his wife supposedly created a cake. I have to admit, that it looks kind of unusual but there is also joulutorttu, which looks even a bit more disturbing.
In the time before Easter, kids grow grass in little bowls, usually at school. They can watch the grass grow which is a symbol for the impending spring. On Easter, the kids find eggs and candy in the bowls among the beautiful grass. I love this idea!
Ok, so I just realized that my post got quite long and there is much more to tell, like Laskiainen (family, snow, bonfire, sausage, pea soup, stick bun, sweet bun, sledge), Karl Fazer chocolate (the best!) or delicious Finnish Christmas food (imelletty perunalaatikko, graavilohi, lipeäkala, pipari, joululimppu, mushroom salad).
I guess you can imagine now why this meeting lasted for three hours, as it took you almost as long as reading this post 😉
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