Finland Unwraps Christmas Market Celebrations

Touting itself as the “real home of Santa Claus,” Finland celebrates Christmas with markets, festivities and traditions, all culminating on Christmas Eve with a taking of the sauna, enjoyment of Christmas treats and gatherings with friends and family…and a Visit by Santa Claus.

Santa Claus, or Joulupukki in Finnish, is known to reside in northeastern Lapland, on the Korvatunturi Fell. Legend states that the Korvatunturi Fell is shaped like an ear, allowing Santa to hear the wishes of children from around the world. Korvatunturi is “home base” for Santa’s travels above the Arctic Circle.

Santa Claus Village, open throughout the year with free admission, is home to Santa Claus’s Office where visitors can meet Santa, visit his Main Post Office and observe the flurry of the festive season.

Cards, letters and parcels sent from Santa Claus’ Main Post Office are stamped with a unique Arctic Circle postmark. Through the years Finland’s Santa Claus has received more than 18 million letters. Each year he receives more than 600,000 letters from more than 150 countries.

SantaPark is a fantasy world inside an underground cave where “elves” work all year in preparation for Christmas. Guests can bake and decorate gingerbread in the Gingerbread Kitchen, learn elf skills in Elf School, or make Christmas decorations in the Elf Workshop. SantaPark’s Sleigh Ride takes guests through four seasons of Finland to the elves’ toy factory where presents for Christmas are made.

According to the Finnish tradition, Christmas is brought to the homes by St. Thomas on Dec. 21 (St. Thomas Day) and is taken away by St. Knut on Jan. 13. St. Thomas markets prepare for the Dec. 21 celebration, selling handmade Christmas decorations, ornaments, handicrafts, gifts, and treats such as ginger bread and hot mulled wine, Glögi, a warming combination of wine, spices and fruit.

The St. Thomas Market in Helsinki, in Esplanade Park, is the largest Christmas market in Finland with approximately 150 vendors. On weekends, entertainment includes a Finnish Christmas pageant and a visit by Santa Claus. The market is open daily from Dec. 7 to 20. In Turku the Christmas Fair is open on weekends through Dec. 25.