Christmas traditions - thisisFINLAND

Calm and harmony: A relaxing sauna continues to be a Finnish Christmas tradition

A steaming hot sauna, softly illuminated and filled with the fragrant aroma of birch leaves, is a centuries-old Finnish tradition intended to bring calmness, harmony and peace before the start of Christmas celebrations.

Christmas Music

Finland’s heavy-metal stars reveal their lighter side at Christmas

Getting together with friends and family during the Christmas season is always special, and heavy metal musicians are no exception – even if, on stage, they are bad boys and girls all year long.

Christmas Christmas traditions

Old-fashioned Christmas fun in Helsinki

Thousands of Helsinki families enjoy traditional outdoor fun and games every December at the Seurasaari Christmas Path.

Christmas Christmas traditions

Christmas in Finland with the Sibelius family

Jean Sibelius created Finland’s best-loved Christmas songs. See how his family spent the holidays (includes link to audio).

Christmas Christmas traditions

The chosen one

Saint Lucia celebrations light up the winter and warm people’s hearts every year on December 13.

Christmas Cuisine

A Finnish Christmas cookbook

Christmas casseroles, Christmas bread, Christmas pastries, Christmas cookies, Christmas ham, Christmas porridge: This article provides recipes for all the good old traditional Finnish holiday fare.

Christmas Christmas traditions

Christmas Eve in a candlelit Finnish cemetery

Visiting the cemetery forms part of many Finns’ Christmas rituals. Hey, it’s not as morbid as it might sound.

Christmas Cuisine

Oh-so-sweet Finnish Christmas!

Finnish Christmas is filled with mouth-watering treats and taste-bud-tickling delicacies. Beware of the sugar rush!