Finnish Christmas [JOULU]

[Christmas is long past and i don't know why i did not post this then, but the sentiments remain as true today as they were back in December]

This time of year always makes me homesick for Finland. I have such fond memories of Christmas as a child. Janne is heading there this Wednesday and i am so happy for him. I hope that he will experience some of that tranquility and peace that only seems to happen in our dear homeland.

Janne on Santa's knee in Finland…check out his Nokia wellingtons...

Melukylän lasten joulu iloa. (Children's Christmas joy)

Finnish Christmas illustration by Martta Wendelin (below)

Birds are well tended to during the winter.

The Christmas Peace (Joulu Rauha) is declared over all the land at noon on Christmas Eve and all the hustle and bustle of quotidian life winds down to serene observance of Christ's birth.

Shops are closed, buses and trains stop running, and people gather together with friends and family to celebrate Christmas.

Presents are opened on Christmas eve. After the candle-lit church service, a festive meal and a joulu-sauna the household gathers to await Santa's arrival. Santa Claus (joulupukki) visits the family with his sack-full of gifts asking if there are any good girls and boys in the household. Children perform a song or poem they have memorized and Santa hands out the presents. Children are usually allowed to stay up as long as the want to play with their presents while the grownups settle in for the wondrous night. Christmas Day is spent at home quietly enjoying the most relaxing day of the year. Traditionally, Boxing Day - the day after Christmas (Tapaninpäivä), is spent visiting with friends and children often go skating, sledding or cross-country skiing. 

While I have developed a real fondness for the American Christmas, i do wish that it had a little more serenity. I miss the nationwide observance of this holy day that allows for everyone to disconnect simultaneously as opposed to struggling to jump off a fast-moving  merry-go-round that keeps spinning even when we have managed to fling ourselves off for a moment, only to brave stepping back on without missing a beat.

I found myself feeling so overwhelmed by the busyness of Christmas this year that i actually could not wait for it to be over, so i took decisive steps to preempt this from happening next year by putting in for vacation time; not so that i could spend it running around like a harried holiday-shopper but so that i could prepare my heart and home to receive the Christmas Peace at noon on Christmas Eve.

The quiet warmth of Christmas, friendly words, good will, light and joy!