In Finland, Valentine’s Day is known as “ystävänpäivä”. So it’s not just for couples, but also for remembering friends and family.
Do you know what is Valentine’s Day in Finnish? In Finland, Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14th. But in Finland, it is known as “ystävänpäivä”. Ystävänpäivä means friend’s day. So in Finland, Valentine’s Day is not just for couples, but also for remembering friends and family.
In Finnish language Christmas is “joulu”, Christmas tree is “joulukuusi” and Santa Claus is “Joulupukki”. These are probably the three most important words to know about Christmas
In Finnish language Christmas is “joulu”, Christmas tree is “joulukuusi” and Santa Claus is “Joulupukki”. These are probably the three most important words to know. But if you would like to celebrate Christmas in Finnish, here are some more Finnish Christmas words to learn.
Christmas in Finnish
Christmas = joulu
Christmas Eve = jouluaatto
Christmas Day = joulupäivä
Boxing Day = tapaninpäivä
holiday season = joulunaika / joulukausi / juhlakausi
Christmas party (before Christmas) = pikkujoulut
Christmas party = joulujuhla
celebrate = juhlia
Christmas tree in Finnish
Christmas tree = joulukuusi
Christmas tree decorations = joulukuusen koristeet
candle = kynttilä
wreath = kranssi
ornament = koriste
Gingerbread in Finnish
gingerbread = piparkakku
gingerbread house = piparkakkutalo
candy cane = karkkitanko
chocolate = suklaa
marmelade = marmeladi
Santa Claus in Finnish
Santa Claus = Joulupukki
Mrs. Santa = Joulumuori
elf = tonttu
reindeer = poro
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer = Petteri Punakuono
Independence Day is a national holiday, so most people have the day off. Restaurants and some shops may be open, but most businesses are closed.
Finland became independent in 1917, so Finland is more than a hundred years old. Independence Day was celebrated for the first time in 1919. But the biggest celebration was in 2017, when Finland turned 100 years old!
Finland’s Independence Day is a National Holiday
Independence Day is a national holiday in Finland, so most people have the day off. Restaurants and some shops may be open, but most businesses are closed.
Finns usually celebrate independence day at their homes, or with friends or family. People might make something special for dinner, light the white and blue candles and raise the Finnish flag. Independence Day is one of the Finnish flag flying day. Flag should be raised at 8am and lowered at 8pm.
Kekri is one of the old Finnish traditions that was forgotten in some point. Before the Christianity, Kekri was the most important celebration of the year.
Kekri is one of the old Finnish traditions that was forgotten in some point. Before the Christianity, Kekri was the most important celebration of the year.
Kekri was the name of the ancient Finnish god of agriculture, livestock and fertility. Kekri was also the name of the feast that celebrated the end of the harvest season. In different parts of the country Kekri was known by different names. It was also called Keyri and Köyri.
When Kekri was Celebrated?
Kekri has its roots in the old European agricultural culture. Kekri was a celebration of both the harvest season and the end of the calendar year. In the old days it was celebrated in the autumn when the harvest season had ended.
The exact date of the celebration varied by the region, by the village, or even by the house. Celebration could have last for several days. And in the best case, when the celebration ended in your house, the party might just have started at the neigbor.
How Kekri was Celebrated?
Kekri was a celebration of joy. People used to sing, dance, play games and tell stories to each other. Young people dressed up as “kekripukki” (Kekri goat) or “kekritär” (Kekri lady). Kekripukki wore a fur coat and horns, while kekritär was dressed in all-white. Kekripukki and kekritär went from house to house and people offered them food and drink.
Eating and drinking were a big part of the celebration. It was believed that a large amount of food guaranteed the success of the next year’s harvest. If the food would have run out, it would have been a bad omen. The Kekri menu might have included roast lamb, sausages, bread, porridge, root vegetables, beer and alcohol.
12 Day Break
After Kekri celebration followed 12 day break. Which was probably welcomed after a couple of days heavy eating and drinking. This time had to be spent quietly. During this break most of the work was forbidden. If you were going to work, it had to be something quiet.
This was also the time to remember the ancestors. Spirits of the ancestors came to check how you were doing. If you treated them with respect they brought you good luck for the coming year. Ancestors were happy if you heated sauna for them. And before you went to sauna, you first left some food on the table for the ancestors to enjoy. Among the spirits there were also restless souls. Bonfires were burnt to keep these unwanted evil spirits away.
Modern Kekri Celebration
Old Kekri traditions and celebrations were forgotten in some point. However, Kekri has recently made a comeback as an authentic Finnish tradition. Nowadays Kekri is celebrated as public events in many places around Finland, for example in Suomenlinna. Modern Kekri celebrations with bonfires and light shows are a great way to bring joy and light to the darkest time of the year.
Kekritär photographed in 1927. Image by Ahti Rytkänen / Finnish Heritage Agency
National Sleepy Head Day is a yearly celebration of sleeping late…Well, not really, unfortunately. It is actually quite the opposite
National Sleepy Head Day, or “Unikeonpäivä” as it is called in Finland, is a yearly celebration of sleeping late…Well, not really, unfortunately. I wish there would be such a day, but this one isn’t it.
The idea of the is actually quite the opposite. It punishes those who sleep late. Cruel, isn’t it. Traditionally, the last person still in bed is being awaken by loud sounds or by throwing water on him/her. Luckily no one really does this (anymore). People are let to sleep, or at least those who are on vacation.
So if no one follows the old traditions, what is the meaning of this day? Well, it isn’t completely forgotten. The day is still celebrated in one place in Finland. In the city of Naantali.
Origins of the Celebration
The origin of the Sleepy Head is the story of Seven Sleepers of Ephesus. According to legend, the seven men went hiding in the caves and slept for hundreds of years. In Finnish almanac this Christian holiday has been mentioned since 1652. But the religious roots of the celebration have since been forgotten and the celebration is nowadays quite informal.
How the Sleepy Head Day is Being Celebrated
The city of Naantali is where all the celebrations takes place. The first written mention about the celebrations are from a news article from 1880s, where it said that celebrations went as usual. So we can assume that the tradition goes way back much further. It is known to have been celebrated in 1920s, but then it was forgotten for decades. Until being revived in 1950s.
Nowadays, big part of the celebration is the unveiling of the Sleepy Head of the year, who is usually a Finnish celebrity. The Sleepy Head is unveiled in the morning of July 27th, at 7 am. The sleepy head is often “woken up” by dropping him/her in the water. The “sleeper” also receives a traditional red and white pajama which he/she gets to wear the whole day while celebrating with others.
The Sleepy Head Day has become quite big festival in Naantali. Celebrations start couple of days before, and they typically include shows, concerts and a fair. If you are visiting Naantali, or you a nearby at the time, it is definitely worth a visit. Check Naantali’s website for more information.
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