Language/Finnish/Culture/Holidays-and-Celebrations

Finnish → Culture → 0 to A1 Course → Finnish Culture and Traditions → Holidays and Celebrations

Finnish holidays and celebrations are an integral part of Finnish culture. In this lesson, you will learn about some of the most important Finnish holidays and celebrations. These include Christmas, Midsummer, and Independence Day.

Christmas

Christmas is one of the most important holidays in Finland. It is celebrated on December 24th and 25th. The Christmas season starts in November, and people begin decorating their homes and streets. The most famous Christmas decoration in Finland is the Christmas star.

Some of the typical Finnish Christmas foods include:

• Christmas ham: A ham roast that is usually prepared a day or two before Christmas Eve.
• Beetroot salad: A sweet, traditional Finnish salad that is made with beets, carrots, and pickles.
• Rice pudding: A sweet, creamy rice dish that is eaten with sugar and cinnamon.

Finnish Christmas is also known for its traditions. For example, on Christmas Eve, it is customary to visit family and friends, as well as attend church services. Another tradition is to light candles in the windows, which symbolizes welcoming the Christ child into homes.

Midsummer

Midsummer is one of the most important celebrations in Finland. It takes place on the weekend between June 20th and 26th, depending on the year. Midsummer is the longest day of the year, and it is celebrated by lighting bonfires and enjoying the bright summer nights.

Some of the traditional Finnish Midsummer foods include:

• Grilled sausage: A Finnish sausage that is typically served with mustard and ketchup.
• New potatoes: Boiled potatoes that are eaten with dill and butter.
• Strawberry cake: A cake made with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.

In addition to the food, Midsummer is also known for its traditions. For example, it is traditional to decorate the house with birch branches and build a Midsummer bonfire. It is also customary to go to the sauna and swim in the lake.

Independence Day

Independence Day is celebrated on December 6th in Finland. It commemorates Finland's declaration of independence from Russia in 1917. It is a national holiday, and most people have the day off from work.

Some of the traditions associated with Independence Day include:

• Flag raising ceremony: A ceremony in which the Finnish flag is raised at 8am and lowered at sunset.
• Candle lighting ceremony: A ceremony in which two candles are lit in every window at 6pm to honor the soldiers who died in the Winter War.
• Reception at the President's Palace: A reception at which the President of Finland greets guests and honors individuals who have made significant contributions to Finnish society.

Independence Day is also associated with formal dress, and many people wear traditional Finnish clothing. The President of Finland, as well as other government officials, also participate in formal dress events.

Conclusion

Finnish holidays and celebrations are an important part of Finnish culture. They provide an opportunity for people to come together, enjoy traditional foods, and participate in time-honored customs. By learning about Finnish holidays and celebrations, you will gain a greater appreciation for Finnish culture, and maybe even want to participate in some of these celebrations yourself.

Finnish	Pronunciation	English
Joulu	[ˈjou̯lu]	Christmas
Juhannus	[ˈjuhɑnːus]	Midsummer
Itsenäisyyspäivä	[ˈitse̞næi̯syyʰsˌpæ̀ʋæ̀]	Independence Day

Table of Contents - Finnish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Introduction to Finnish

• Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Basic Sentence Structure

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Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

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Nouns and Adjectives

• Noun Cases
• Adjective Agreement

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Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-20
• Telling Time

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Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

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Daily Activities

• Daily Routine
• Hobbies and Leisure

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Questions and Negation

• Forming Questions
• Negation

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Food and Dining

• Food Vocabulary
• Dining Out

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Prepositions and Postpositions

• Prepositions
• Postpositions

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Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Phrases

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Finnish Culture and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Finnish Sauna

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Weather and Seasons

• Weather Vocabulary
• Seasons

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Conjunctions and Subordinate Clauses

• Conjunctions
• Subordinate Clauses

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Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

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Finnish Literature and Music

• Finnish Literature
• Finnish Music

Related Lessons

• Finnish Traditional Crafts
• Finnish Holidays and Festivals
• Finland Timeline
• Finnish Literature
• Finnish Sauna
• Finnish Society and Values
• Finnish Music
• Finnish Contemporary Literature
• Finnish Film Industry