Celebrations


New Year (uudenvuodenpäivä/nyarsdag) is celebrated in Finland, as it is almost everywhere. The cold temperatures, however, keeps the carnival feeling low.

At Easter (pääsiäinen/pask) it is normally very quiet in towns and cities. Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays and the majority of shops are closed then. Also cinemas and restaurants may be closed at least some time during Easter. Many people tend to withdraw to celebrate Easter with their families. A brown pudding called mämmi/memma is eaten then. In Western Finland some people burn bonfires on Easter Saturday.

The big carnival occurs on May Day's Eve. May Day (vappu/valborg) is a traditional reason for students and workers to party. On May Day's Eve and May Day people of all age groups crowd the streets, buy balloons and funny masks, wear their student caps and celebrate the beginning of spring. If you arrive in Helsinki on May Day, don't get shocked; this anarchy takes place only once a year.

At Midsummer Eve (juhannusaatto/midsommarafton), when the night is at its shortest, Finns retire to their country cottages, burn their huge bonfires by the lakeside and spend time with family and friends. According to Finnish folklore, Midsummer night is full of magic, and people amuse themselves by performing various types of old rituals...

December 6 is a national day, Independence Day (itsenäisyyspäivä/självständighetsdag). This is a more solemn celebration due to the fact that independence used to be hard to get and keep. Formal balls are held, deserving citizens receive honours, most people put two candles on their windowsill and honour the memory of those who fought for Finland during World War II.

Christmas (joulu/jul) is usually celebrated at home, with family and close friends. Candles are lit on the graves of loved ones, Santa Claus (who lives in Lapland, in northern Finland) visits children after Christmas Eve dinner and people go to church early in the morning on Christmas day. Nowadays, there are alternative ways of celebrating Christmas, though.

Public holidays

January 1, New Year's Day
January 6, Epiphany
Good Friday *
Easter Monday *
May 1, May Day (vappu/valborg)
Ascension Day *
Whitsun *
Midsummer Day *
All Saints' Day *
December 6, Independence Day
December 25, Christmas Day (joulu/jul)
December 26, Boxing Day

* Date varies yearly