New Year in Finland in English. Where to celebrate the New Year in Finland: vacation options, tourist tips

People who like to celebrate New Year's holidays abroad begin to think in autumn which country to choose this time. New Year holidays in Finland will leave an indelible impression on the whole family. There will be a lot of snow, which is so often lacking in Russia. But where in Finland to celebrate the New Year, so that the trip will be remembered for a long time? The answer is simple: no matter what Finnish city a vacationer goes to, entertainment and a lot of things await him. positive emotions.

You can rent a house and enjoy nature, visit a ski resort and go skiing, or you can book a hotel room, go on excursions and take a steam bath in Finnish sauna. If the program is correctly designed, then for new year holidays you can go around not only all the sights of the country of the "Northern Lights", but also get acquainted with the Finnish culture.

Should I go to Finland for the New Year holidays?

Finland is beautiful in winter, and it’s not difficult to choose where to go. You can organize a train to the Åland Islands and spend time there or choose from 75 ski resorts. You can celebrate the New Year alone with nature if you rent a hut in a wooded area.

Where to relax in Finland for the New Year: EVERYWHERE! This snowy country can offer a lot of entertainment for a group of friends, a couple in love or a family with small children. Consider the most interesting options.

Leisure options

1. You can stay in the capital of Finland. Helsinki is a beautiful city at any time of the year, but especially in winter. Sightseeing will leave a lot of impressions, and the capital boasts many architectural buildings, museums and theme parks.
2. A trip to Tampere is worth at least because of the famous museum contemporary art and the legendary Police Museum. It is in this Finnish city that the Moomin Museum is located, because the author of this popular fairy tale comes from Finland.
3. What New Year without the Finnish Santa Claus. Travel to Lapland, considered the birthplace of Santa Claus. There you can visit the village where the magic grandfather lives and see the northern lights. Who loves active species sport will be able to go skiing and sleighing in reindeer or dog sledding.
4. Savonlinna is famous for its huge number of lakes and rivers. In winter, they freeze, so there is an opportunity to go ice skating or go ice fishing. Be sure to visit the opera festival, which is famous all over the world.
5. Turku is considered the oldest city in Finland, and a trip there will remain in memory for a lifetime. Be sure to visit the famous Cathedral and the New Year's Bazaar, which attracts all the locals of the country. It is in Turku that the government installs the largest spruce.

Visit one of the national parks, and rent a small cottage next to it, where you will relax after a busy day.

Book a room in any of the ski resorts where you will not be bored, or retire to a hut in the middle of nature, where you can hunt, fish and steam in the sauna.

Tours and attractions

What to do in Finland for the New Year? Of course, go on excursions. Finland is a small country and if you wish, you can have time to visit all the most beautiful places this northern state.

Let's define the most "tourist" routes, where you should go:

1. Lapland and the village of Finnish Santa Claus.
2. The Siida Museum will tell about the history of the Finnish people.
3. Restaurant Anaar will treat you to traditional Finnish dishes.
4. Olafsborg will show the grandeur of its fortresses, where historical battles took place several centuries ago.
5. Visit the zoo, of which there are 13 in Finland, or the aquarium.
6. Go to the Laspivaara mine, where you can get yourself a real mountain amethyst.
7. Visit national and theme parks, attractions and nature centers. It will be interesting not only for children, but also for adults.
8. Arrange shopping in the best stores in Finland. On New Year's holidays, from December 26, crazy discounts just begin. Finland has a quality product that can be bought for ridiculous money during this period. Just before buying, carefully familiarize yourself with the restrictions at customs, what you can take with you and what you can’t.
9. Visit the waterfall in Imatra.
10. Explore Turku Castle and many other places in this ancient city.

This list is only a small part of the places that the Finnish territory has to offer.

For convenience, download several useful applications that will not only prevent you from getting lost, but will also want to focus on places worth attention.

Ski resorts and entertainment

If there is a passion for outdoor activities, then where to go in Finland for the New Year is very clear.

Despite the fact that there are 75 ski resorts in the country of the Northern Lights, we will consider the most popular ones and highlight their advantages:

1. Kuusamo-Hand.
2. Vuokatti.
3. Tahko.
4. Kuopio.
5. Yllas.
6. Himos.
7. Levy.

Here are the best resorts northern country compiled according to people's rating vacationers.

Each of these resorts can offer wonderful ski and snowboard trails, frozen lakes for ice skating, snowmobile and sledding, snowmobile trips, ice fishing and a real Finnish sauna.

Cottage rentals and nature

New Year's Eve in Finland promises to make the New Year holidays special. You can rent a cottage and enjoy the virgin nature of this country. Any village located in the bosom of nature will offer a lot of entertainment. Remember that it is better to book houses in advance, so you can not only save money, but also choose best places.

Consider the most popular regions where you should think about renting a cottage:

1. Suomi.
2. Yulyass.
3. Levy.
4. Rovaniemi.
5. If.
6. Hyakia.
7. Tahko.
8. Hand.
9. Vuokatti.
10. Lapland.

Remember that most Finns are used to celebrating the New Year on native land and also rent cottages in ski resorts and natural parks, in addition to this, many people from Europe go there, so it’s better to start thinking about renting a cottage in the fall.

The weather for the New Year in Finland is always snowy, so if a person lives in the south of Russia, where there is very little snow, the Finnish land will delight him with abundance.

It is no secret that Russians love this country very much and the following are the most popular tips from experienced tourists who have visited Finland more than once:

1. Dress warmly, and if you haven't brought down jackets with you, Finnish stores will sell them at a good price and excellent quality.
2. Do not forget about equipment if you plan to ski, snowboard or skate.
3. If you decide to rent a house, then choose the one who will be closer to the lake and with a bathhouse.
4. Be sure to take your kids to visit Santa Claus.
5. Taste Finnish national dishes and famous strong drinks.

Holidays in Finland will seem like a fairy tale, the holiday is literally in the air.

If you want peace and quiet, rent a hut on the banks of a river or lake, and for people who want fun and activity, go to a ski resort.

Don't forget to bring memorable souvenirs from the land of the Northern Lights, which will remind you of magical holiday, which lasted whole year.

Interesting video: what is interesting in Finland for the New Year

New Year in Finland, like a huge number of countries around the world, is celebrated on the night of December 31 to January 1. But the celebration begins long before that date. On New Year's holidays, a fairy tale, mysticism and real spirit Christmas. How could it be otherwise? After all, this is where the real Santa Claus lives and his residence is located. Many children in Finland sincerely believe in Santa Claus, who will come on his reindeer and bring a whole bag of gifts from Lapland.

Finns honor their traditions and customs. One of these interesting and old traditions in Finland is to keep the turnips of the summer harvest, which are peeled on New Year's Eve, and candles are placed inside and given to children.

On the morning before the New Year in all houses you can already hear funny songs and loud laughter. On the streets, people arrange an unusual torchlight procession. You will not see such beauty in any other country in the world. Residents of cities set fire to barrels of tar. According to belief, with this, they kind of burn old year meeting the new with new opportunities, goals and dreams. One of the oldest Finnish traditions is honoring the dead on New Year's Day. On the eve of the New Year, people go to the cemetery and light candles on the graves of their loved ones as a sign of eternal memory and sincere love. On New Year's holidays, all the streets of cities and towns flicker with bright lights. Finns Special attention give illumination, decorate it as christmas trees as well as the house inside and out……

But the most bright moment New Year is when the clock shows twelve o'clock on the dial, all people take to the streets and launch fireworks into the sky, fire crackers, hug and wish each other happiness, health and love. Since the use of pyrotechnics is permitted by law only on this day.

As in many countries, the New Year is family celebration, it is celebrated in the family circle. Even adults tend to spend it with their parents. Finnish youth celebrate the New Year with friends in cafes, restaurants or nightclubs. In entertainment venues funny contests and unforgettable theatrical performances that will not leave anyone indifferent, will give good mood and a positive charge for the whole next year. Many Finnish families and tourists from other countries travel to Lapland on December 30th. It is here that the very epicenter of the New Year's festivities is concentrated. Beautiful nature will take you to New Year's fairy tale. Here you can meet the real Joulupukki, ride dog and reindeer sleds, conquer all kinds of ski slopes of any complexity, learn to skate and ski and try real traditional Finnish dishes.

For lovers of unforgettable spectacles, in the town of Kemi, a world-famous snow and ice festival is held on New Year's Eve. Unusual sculptures are so realistic that it is impossible to believe that they are made of ice. But the most delightful thing is the snow hotel.

The Finns pay special attention to the choice of gifts, and for this, grandiose New Year's markets and Christmas sales are held in Finland. Discounts on goods will please any inveterate shopaholic, as gifts can be purchased at a huge discount, sometimes reaching 90% of the price. Therefore, people sweep away almost everything that is on the shelves, buying presents for each family member. After all, having received even some trifle as a gift, it is always pleasant, the main thing is that it be presented with tenderness and love, from a pure heart.

As for the New Year's table in Finland, it is bursting with a varied number of dishes. Traditional potato casserole with an unforgettable taste, salted salmon, ham, whitefish, parfait gingerbread and much more. The traditional New Year's drink in Finland, oddly enough, is beer. Finns try not to drink too much alcohol on the holiday, as the able-bodied population needs to go to work on the second of January. New Year is always the expectation of a miracle, in the soul of everyone there must be faith in the fulfillment of desires and confidence that even the most trifling dream will come true.

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Slides captions:

Finland Tervetuloa Suomi

The flag of Finland appeared only in 1917, when the Finnish kingdom gained independence.

Helsinki has been the capital of Finland since 1917 and the largest city in Finland. It is located in the south of the country, on the coast of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea.

The population of Finland is over 5 million people. Ethnic composition: Finns and Swedes. Finland is officially bilingual. Between 1806 and 1917, Russian was the third official language. The average population density is 17 people. per sq. km. Most Finns belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Traditional clothing of the peoples of Finland

Christmas and New Year in Finland

The history of Christmas in Finland began to be celebrated after the adoption of Christianity, but the traditions of its celebration are strongly intertwined with pagan ones. So, there were rounds of houses mummers - caroling, just appeared star of bethlehem singing Christmas carols. The dressed-up goat distributing gifts has become Finnish grandfather Frost - Joulupukki. On Christmas Eve it was customary to finish work early in order to get enough sleep before the Christmas service. It was believed that on the night of Christmas, ghosts and devils walked the Earth. . For the "spirits" they left food and a melted bath, and they scared away evil spirits with a cross painted on the doors. On the same night, it was customary to guess at the betrothed. On Christmas Eve, everyone tried to get up early, as there is a playful custom that the one who woke up first can flog the one who is still dreaming. By old tradition it is on Christmas Eve in Finland that a Christmas sheaf of oat or wheat stalks is hung on a high pole near the house (or on the roof), intended for birds, which are especially difficult at this time. Christmas Eve is also sauna time, which is enjoyed by the whole family.

The modern festive Christmas period lasts four weeks and is called "advent". The first mention of "advent" refers to the year 524. All this time the Christmas fast lasts, accompanied by Lutheran concerts, church ceremonies and Christmas streets, elegantly decorated with garlands. The first such street was decorated in Pietarsaari in 1840. Within a month, the countdown to Christmas is underway. Children do this with the help of special two-layer calendars, behind each numbered tear-off sheet of which you can find a chocolate bar or a picture. Such calendars are an invention of the distant past - it was invented by the German Frau Lang at the end of the 19th century for her son to make the expectation of Christmas more interesting. Gradually this children's calendar won recognition all over the world.

The first pre-holiday parties are hosted by women who keep the tradition of getting together and making Christmas decorations to sell at charity fairs. These meetings, which have existed since 1920, are called "Little Christmas" (Fin. Pikkujoulu). Four weeks before Christmas, adults on each Sunday of "Advent" light one candle. The candle is not allowed to burn out to the end, but extinguished - until next Sunday, when two candles are already lit, etc. By the Christmas holiday, all four candles were burning on the windows of Finnish houses.

Festive Schedule On December 13, Lucia's Day Swedish-speaking families in Finland celebrate Lucia's Day. Lucia's Day used to be celebrated on the shortest day of the year, which is why Lucia, the queen of light, became so popular in the north. Finland's nationwide Lucia is elected from among ten young girls by public vote.

Christmas tree appears in Finnish homes on December 23 main symbol holiday - elegantly decorated with straw geometric figures "himmels", flags different countries and other spruce toys. On Christmas Eve, candles are lit on it.

Christmas Eve "Christmas World" On December 24, on Christmas Eve, families try to get together. Exactly at noon in Turku, the “Christmas World” is announced on the old square, everyone congratulates each other, watches festive ceremony start the holiday live or on TV and start the Christmas meal. At 5 p.m., festive services are held in churches, after which the Finns go to cemeteries and bring candles and fir wreaths to the graves of relatives.

The Christmas dinner on December 25, the feast of Christmas itself, is spent in quiet pious reflection. All public institutions and public transport do not work. The most visited place on this day is the church.

Tapani Day On December 26, fun festivities, dances and feasts begin, continuing the traditions of the medieval Tapani Day or St. Stephen's Day. On this day, caroling takes place in the costumes of goats, "Christmas cranes", and evil spirits.

Finnish Christmas table Traditionally at Christmas in Finland, baked pork ham and milk rice porridge are served, in which one almond grain is hidden (the happy owner is predicted a good year and good health). The old belief that whoever takes the first spoonful of porridge will die in the coming year has led to new tradition, serve porridge on the table with a spoon already stuck in it, which is then set aside. Hot potato, carrot and swede casseroles are indispensable dishes on the Christmas table. Of the cold appetizers, the Finns prefer beetroot salad - an analogue of vinaigrette, freshly salted salmon or whitefish, cold-smoked salmon.

From the sweet, gingerbread cookies or a house of gingerbread cookies are served, as well as puffs with plum jam. A popular Finnish Christmas drink is hot glögi with spices and dried fruit. In Finnish families at Christmas, you can see bread and cookies in the form of a bird or a horse, a cow or a sheep. Quite often there are cookies in the form of a cross. The abundance of treats on the Christmas table was emphasized by the Finnish proverb: “The heavier the head of the owner of the house from food, the better the harvest will be next year.”

Christmas decorations The color of Christmas in Finland is red. It is present both in the decorative decoration of the house (tablecloths, candles, Christmas decorations, flowers, etc.), and in festive clothes. In addition to the Christmas tree, which has entered Finnish life since the 18th century, it is customary to decorate a house in Finland for Christmas with flowers. The hyacinth has been the symbol of Christmas for more than 140 years. Interestingly, blue and white are considered Joulupukki's favorite colors. "Julestian" - a Christmas star - an unusually beautiful plant of red color. It is still a symbol of Christmas in Finland.

Joulupukki

Joulupukki - A Christmas grandfather who gives gifts to children at Christmas. Literally translated from Finnish means "Christmas goat". The latter is depicted as a straw goat and accompanies the Christmas holidays. The tradition differs little from that in other Scandinavian countries. Now Joulupukki looks like the usual Santa Claus with a white beard, in a red coat and hat, although he retains some national characteristics. But even in the 19th century, he was depicted in a goat's skin and sometimes even with horns. Joulupukki has a wife - Muori, the "old mistress" - the personification of winter. He has gnomes as his assistants, who sit in the Echo Caverns for a year and listen to how children around the world behave, and before Christmas they sort out Christmas mail, help prepare and pack gifts. Unlike most countries, on New Year's Eve in Finland, Joulupukki personally visits families on Christmas Eve. Most often, his role is played by a dressed-up father. Children dress up as little gnomes: in red tights, a long red hat, a gray cotton suit. Coming, Joulupukki invariably asks the same question: “There are good kids?”, and the answer is always the same: “Yes!” Usually Joulupukki, on New Year's Eve, brings a large basket of gifts, and the children sing songs to him and dance with him. Then Joulupukki tells them how far he has travelled. He lives on Korvatunturi mountain in eastern Lapland. Children and adults accompany him with a song. It remains for his little helpers to distribute gifts. Most early messages about the distribution of Christmas gifts in Finnish families date back to the first years of the 19th century. Gifts were often made with my own hands: gave, for example, clothes or goodies. In the first decades of the 20th century, manufactured goods as gifts gradually spread throughout the country. IN Lately, for the new year, in Finland they again began to appreciate the gifts of "home-made".

Happy New Year ja Hyvää Joulua ! Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!

In the year when fireworks are allowed. Beer, sausages and potato salad are traditional New Year's dishes in Finland. Sports equipment and candles - the best gifts for Finns for the New Year.

The people of Finland celebrate the New Year quite modestly. First of all, this is due to the fact that the main celebrations fall on Christmas, when everyone is waiting for Santa Claus and gifts, and secondly, because January 2 is a full-time working day.

If you want to wish a Finn a Happy New Year, you can say one of the following phrases to him:

Happy New Year! - Hyvä Uutta Vuotta! (Hyvaa Uutta Vuotta!) - Happy New Year! - Onnellista Uutta Wuotta! (Onnellista Uutta Vuotta!).

Finnish people traditionally celebrate Christmas with their closest relatives, and on New Year's Eve they go to restaurants and secular parties, where they meet the chiming clock in the company of friends, acquaintances, and colleagues. However, most events usually take place during the day, and rarely anyone stays in a restaurant until midnight.

The cost of dishes on New Year's Eve is not much different from any other day. In the capital, you can also taste non-traditional Scandinavian cuisine from Spain, Germany, Italy, Mexico, China, Vietnam or Japan.

On New Year's Eve, the city transport schedule corresponds to Friday, and all shops and organizations set a reduced work schedule: from 7 am to 6 pm. However, the metropolitan metro, on the contrary, extends the working day by two hours. Tram routes passing near the Senate Square change during the celebrations, since the main city events have been held on the square since 1928.

January 1 is a public holiday in Finland. On this day, public transport operates according to the Sunday schedule, some intercity trains are canceled, and most shops are closed.

The traditional government greeting on New Year's Eve is not from the president of the country, but from the mayor of Helsinki, and is broadcast on the national YLE channel.

Finns prefer not to stand at the stove all evening on December 31st and usually prepare a rather modest, by our standards, treat: homemade sausages and a boiled potato salad with oil, onion and vinegar. From drinks to New Year's table most often there is beer and champagne.

Also, the New Year is the only day when you can arrange your own fireworks, because in Finland fireworks and firecrackers are only allowed on New Year's Eve from 6 pm to 6 am. At the same time, private individuals can “launch money into the sky” only outside city squares and parks, and only with permission from rescuers. All fireworks sold in Finland must bear the Tukes (Chemical Safety Agency) or CE marking, and persons under the age of eighteen cannot buy or even use them.

Gifts on New Year's Eve are brought by the so-called "Father of Christmas", whose role is usually played by the disguised head of the family. To receive a long-awaited present, everyone, even adults, must sing a song to him, and he leaves the gifts themselves at nightwhen everyone is already sleeping.

At the same time, for this holiday, the Finns do not give large and expensive gifts, since the main presents had already been presented on Christmas Eve. universal New Year's gift in Finland, a candle is considered as a symbol of friendship and love in next year, and some piece of sports equipment.

The celebration itself usually ends quite early, because according to the old belief, the one who gets up early on the first day of the year will be fresh and full of energy all year. Also, the Finns are of the opinion that if parents do not scold their children on January 1, then the whole next year they will obey them.

Finns love to guess on New Year's Eve. The main divination takes place on tin, or on objects hidden under dishes.

To this day, in the country, for example, in popular Tiimari stores, you can buy tin ingots specially designed for divination. They are usually made in the form of a horseshoe, which in itself is considered a symbol of good luck.

A couple of minutes before the New Year comes, you need to kind words remember the old year and make plans and wishes for the next, and then, continuing to think about what good should happen, melt the tin and pour it into cold water.

By the shape of a frozen piece or its shadow from a candle on the wall, you can determine whether a wish will come true. Carefully looking at the tin from all sides, you need to look for the following signs: for love - the heart, for money - lace and patterns, for career growth- keys, for an imminent wedding - little men, for travel - a boat. If instead of one piece in the water, the tin breaks into many small ones - there will be sadness.

New Year in Finland is celebrated on the night of December 31st to January 1st. In the coldest country in Europe during winter holidays an atmosphere of warmth and fun. New Year's Eve the older generation and big families spend at home at the solemn table. Young people prefer to celebrate the New Year in the company of close friends at parties, in clubs, pubs and restaurants. Public institutions arrange this night entertainment show programs, contests and lotteries with prizes.

A month before the winter holidays, the settlements of the country begin to acquire holiday look. On the squares of cities, the main attribute is set - a New Year tree. The main coniferous beauty of Finland is located in the capital - Helsinki - on Senate Square. The winter day in this country is very short, so the residents of the city can enjoy the festive illumination of the New Year tree for most of the day.

Rites and traditions

Finns honor new year traditions and customs that have their roots in antiquity. IN last days December, they honor the memory of deceased relatives: they go to the cemetery and light candles on the graves.

On the eve of the New Year, the inhabitants of the country sum up the results of the outgoing year: they remember its best moments and make plans for the coming year, distribute debts, forgive insults. The housewives put things in order in the houses. bad omen considered borrowing money. The tradition of setting fire to barrels of tar helps to let go of troubles and troubles. Finns believe that the fire burns last year and gives way to new events.

Ancient New Year's rite- divination on molten tin. A piece of tin is melted over a candle flame and poured into a vessel with cold water. According to the image of the resulting figure or its shadow, they determine what awaits a person in the coming year. Heart marks big love, the image of a person - a celebration at a wedding, a pattern in the form of lace - money. In anticipation new year holidays in souvenir shops you can buy blanks made of tin in the form of horseshoes.

New Year decoration

Main new Year decoration city ​​squares, shopping centers and houses - Christmas trees. Homemade are popular in Finland Christmas decorations. From bright shreds fabrics, colored cardboard and paper, the inhabitants of the country make toys, lanterns and flags, which become the highlight of the coniferous beauty. On front door hanging a Christmas wreath.

Streets, parks and houses flash with festive illumination during the winter holidays. Residents of private houses decorate their yards and gardens with lanterns, which are often placed in snow compositions in the form of pyramids.

IN new year's eve the sky over the cities of Finland is extraordinarily beautiful. At midnight, shouting "Hyvää Uutta Vuotta", which means "Happy New Year", the Finns launch thousands of fireworks into the sky. It is allowed to organize such events only on New Year's Eve, so the people of Finland do not miss the opportunity to enjoy the bright spectacle.

Festive table

The New Year's table in Finland is distinguished by its diversity and luxury. Hostesses cook traditional dishes pork, baked hams with vegetables and marinated potato salad onions. On the tables there are fish dishes from salmon, salmon, trout. From cold appetizers, Finns prefer snacks and beetroot salad.

As sweets, berry-fruit jelly and gingerbread cookies are served at the table. Cookies are baked in the form of New Year's symbols (Christmas trees, snowflakes, snowmen, bells) or folded in the form of houses, which are decorated with multi-colored icing.

Among alcoholic beverages champagne and light or dark beer are popular. The traditional Finnish New Year's drink is gleg. It is made from hot red wine with the addition of raisins, nuts, spices and dried fruits.

Present

It is not customary to give gifts on New Year's Eve in Finland. Residents of the country can present to close relatives and friends original candles, which symbolize strong friendship And family relationships, postcards, Christmas decorations, sweets.

Cities and resorts

New Year holidays in Finland will provide big choice winter entertainment.

Families with children and romantics will love a holiday in the province of Lapland. In the vicinity of the city of Rovaniemi, you can rent magnificent cottages in the form of spacious wooden huts. Polar nights with long twilight will give you the opportunity to enjoy the picturesque nature of snow-covered forests. Unique a natural phenomenon- northern lights - will allow you to plunge into the world of magic.

Children all over the world believe that Lapland is the birthplace of Santa Claus. Not far from the city of Rovaniemi is the Village Workshop of Joulupukki. In this place, children and adults are expected entertainment, Gifts and souvenirs. Near the village of Joulupukki there is a zoo and an animal hospital Ranua. Here you can see polar and brown bears, wolverines, moose, reindeer, wild boars, roe deer, fallow deer, birds of prey. Tourists are offered exciting winter activities: snowmobiling, sledding with reindeer and dogs, visiting the Lapland tent, excursions to reindeer farms, fishing.

Fans of active sports recreation will love the Levi ski resort in western Lapland. It offers vacationers convenient lifts and trails for skis, snowboards and snowmobiles.

In the Finnish city of Kemi there is a unique Ice Castle. Every year sculptors and architects work to create it. original design. In this town, you can stay in the Ice Hotel - LumiLinn SnowCastle, in which all the surrounding objects are made of ice. At the hotel bar you will have the opportunity to sit at an ice table and taste local delicacies and drinks from ice dishes.