For me, the best thing about Finland is our holidays.
New year’s eve is dedicated to parties, foods, drinks, friends and of course sparklers and fireworks.Friends gather around to have a good time, many people rent a cottage or host parties. Most of our money is disappeared in the sky thanks to fireworks.
Easter is dedicated more to family and dinners. Stores are full or Easter eggs, decorations and of course famous mämmi. As a child, it’s even more fun because you go to this folk tradition (virpoa) and you prepare your outfit and birches for it.
After Easter comes the first of May celebration. All the graduated put their graduation caps on and visit the markets to buy balloons and licorice. After that in some cities, you go to watch new engineer freshman’s getting their dew and go to parks for a picnic. Later on, students gather around with their overalls on to parties. The next morning is dedicated to brunch.
Juhannus the midsummer celebration is the biggest thing you can imagine to happen in Finland in the summer. Younger generation rent cottages, book hotel rooms or wild ones just take tents with them and gather around to these huge 3-day festivals with biggest Finnish artists. Calmer people go to cottages by the river, enjoy barbecue and funny “Olympic” games.
Independence day is dedicated to everything related to Finland. In the morning you watch Tuntematon sotilas (“the Unknown Soldier”) movie from tv and the evening you spent watching Independence day reception from presidential palace admiring beautiful dresses and dances while eating Fazer’s chocolate.
Preparation for Christmas starts early. Stores get filled with Christmas chocolates and decorations. Towns become Christmassy with trees, lights and shop windows. Christmas eve on 24th of December is the main day. Sauna and rice porridge are part of traditions as are also watching this television program where children call to Santa Claus and of course Snowman film. People visit the graveyard to ignite candles for the people passed away. Big Christmas dinners with ham, salmon and different casseroles are enjoyed with families and some visit church in the night.
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