What Do Finns Do On Christmas Eve?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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In Finland, Christmas Eve is the main event of the holidays, and the night Santa comes with his presents. It is spent with the family, decorating the tree, drinking “glögi” (mulled wine) and

doing the quintessential Finnish thing, bathing in a Christmas sauna

.

Where do Finns go on Christmas Eve afternoon?

At noon on Christmas Eve, the whole of Finland freezes when Christmas Peace is declared in several Finnish cities. The most popular and well-known event takes place at

the Old Great Square in Turku

where thousands of Finns gather to listen to the declaration every year.

Where do many Finns go on Christmas Eve?

Visiting the cemetery forms part of many Finns' Christmas rituals. Hey, it's not as morbid as it might sound. At Christmastime many Finns visit cemeteries to place candles by the graves of relatives, or by monuments such as this one in memory of war veterans.

What do Bolivians celebrate on Christmas Eve?

Christmas Celebrations in Bolivia

In Bolivia, Christmas Eve is the most important time during the season. Families attend a

midnight mass affectionately called Misa del Gallo

, or “Mass of the Rooster”—because locals return home early in the morning, simultaneous with the rooster's awakening.

What do they call Christmas in Finland?

In Finnish Happy/Merry Christmas is ‘

Hyvää joulua

‘.

Is Christmas big in Finland?

Christmas in Finland begins, as is commonplace on public holidays in Finland, on

Christmas Eve

. Especially the evening of Christmas Eve has become the most important day of the Christmas period, and is nowadays a paid in most workplaces.

How do you say Merry Christmas in Finnish?

The Finnish greeting you'll see and hear most often during the Christmas season is

Hyvää joulua!

(Good Christmas!)

What do Finns eat at Christmas?


Oven-baked ham, root vegetable casseroles, mixed beetroot salad, liver casserole and pâtés

, meat aspics, gravlax or smoked salmon, fish roe and herring dishes form the basis of the traditional Finnish Christmas dinner.

How do they say Merry Christmas in Portugal?

Merry Christmas translates to Portuguese as “

Feliz Natal”

and although this is the most common way to express your Christmas greetings, you can also say “boas festas”. This literally means “happy holidays” and is more general, referring to Christmas and the New Year.

Who is the gift giver in Finland?

Santa Claus may also be called Joulupukki, which means Christmas Goat. In old Finland tradition, there was a Yule Goat who would ask for presents, rather than give them. Eventually

the goat

became the gift giver, and Santa usurped this role, but the name Christmas Goat remained.

What do Peruvians do on Christmas Eve?

In Peru, the

main Christmas celebrations

are held on Christmas Eve which is called ‘Noche Buena', which means ‘the good night'. Many people will go to a special church service called the Misa de Gallo (Rooster Mass) which normally start at 10pm on Christmas Eve. After the mass the main meal is normally eaten.

What do people in Bolivia drink on Christmas?

Others drink a beverage similar to eggnog called cola de mono. Children sing “villancicos” – holiday songs. On Christmas morning it is customary to drink hot chocolate and eat buñuelos (a type of pastry drizzled with syrup). The “

canastón

” is another important Christmas tradition.

What do Peruvians eat for Christmas?

A traditional Peruvian Christmas meal will include

turkey, tamales, salads, applesauce, and a sweet bread called Panettone

. Gifts are exchanged either before or after the meal and family members usually hug, kiss, and thank the gift-giver before opening their present.

Do they celebrate Christmas in Finland?

In Finland,

Christmas Eve is the main event of the holidays

, and the night Santa comes with his presents. It is spent with the family, decorating the tree, drinking “glögi” (mulled wine) and doing the quintessential Finnish thing, bathing in a Christmas sauna.

What is a traditional Finnish Christmas dinner?

Common traditional Finnish Christmas Foods

The main meal includes different casseroles,

rutabaga casserole

, liver casserole, sweet-flavored potato casserole, and carrot casserole. It includes the Christmas ham and the rosolli salad (beetroot salad).

What is Boxing Day in Finland?

Date Year Day
December 26


2021


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Maria Kunar
Author
Maria Kunar
Maria is a cultural enthusiast and expert on holiday traditions. With a focus on the cultural significance of celebrations, Maria has written several blogs on the history of holidays and has been featured in various cultural publications. Maria's knowledge of traditions will help you appreciate the meaning behind celebrations.