Every year in late November, Helsinki’s Christmas season begins with a grand opening ceremony on Senate Square. Thousands gather, bundled in scarves and mittens, waiting for the moment when the seasonal decorations light up.
Santa Claus joins the festive parade, arriving from the Finnish far north to kick off Helsinki’s Christmas celebrations.Photo: Jussi Hellsten/Helsinki Partners
Alexander Street comes alive each year as Helsinki’s official Christmas Street, with thousands gathering to see the decorations light up.Photo: Jussi Hellsten/Helsinki Partners
The mayor of Helsinki opens the celebration alongside a special guest from the far north – Santa Claus himself, visiting from Finnish Lapland, where he has his home, workshop and post office. A joyful parade winds its way through the city, featuring festive floats, horse-drawn carriages, dancing children and even dogs dressed in holiday finery.
The procession moves down Aleksanterinkatu (Alexander Street), which is decorated for the season as Helsinki’s official Christmas Street. Lights strung above the thoroughfare come to life, stretching like golden ribbons into the wintry dusk. The street’s distinctive letter “A” decorations hang high between the buildings, creating a sparkling canopy over the parade crowd.
Stockmann’s Christmas window has delighted families with miniature winter scenes and holiday magic every year since 1949.Photo: Ninni West/Helsinki Partners
Near the end of Alexander Street stands one of Helsinki’s most beloved holiday traditions: the Stockmann department store’s Christmas window. Each year, the display becomes a miniature wonderland of toys, ornaments and tiny woodland creatures. Children can step up onto a special viewing platform to peer inside, their faces glowing in the reflection of the lights.
Children can enjoy a carousel ride in the heart of Helsinki’s Christmas market.Photo: Aleksi Poutanen/Helsinki Partners
The heart of Helsinki lights up for Christmas, from bustling market stalls to the calm winter harbour.Photo: Jussi Hellsten/Helsinki Partners
Market stalls and a towering Christmas tree create a warm, festive atmosphere for families and visitors alike.Photo: Aleksi Poutanen/Helsinki Partners
A week after the opening ceremony, Senate Square transforms into a Christmas village of its own. Wooden stalls offer handmade gifts, ornaments and cosy woollen clothing, while the air fills with the scent of roasted almonds and hot glögg – Finland’s spiced mulled wine – often served with gingerbread cookies. Beneath the grand white cathedral, the city’s towering Christmas tree sparkles beside a vintage carousel, turning slowly to cheerful music.
Dazzling light sculptures in Esplanade Park offer a picturesque stroll through Helsinki’s city centre.Photo: Jussi Hellsten/Helsinki Partners
A short walk away, Esplanade Park glows with its own magic. The lampposts wear crowns shaped like reindeer antlers, and among the statues stand reindeer sculptures composed entirely of lights. Locals and visitors alike pause to take photos or simply to enjoy the moment.
The Lucia procession lights up Helsinki on December 13, which was the shortest day of the year before 18th-century calendar reforms shifted the winter solstice to December 21.Photo: Jussi Hellsten/Helsinki Partners
On December 13, the crowning of the Lucia of Finland takes place. The tradition celebrates Saint Lucia, a fourth-century martyr whose name comes from the Latin word for “light.” In Finland, she has become a symbol of hope during the darkest time of year, when daylight lasts less than six hours in the Finnish capital. Lucia is crowned at Helsinki Cathedral. Dressed in white with a crown of candles on her head, she then leads a procession through the city centre, bringing light and cheer that carries through the winter season.
By Tyler Walton, November 2025
