Magical Christmas Destination: Finland

Magical Christmas Destination: Finland

Christmas is just around the corner. Everybody is looking impatiently to this time of the year.

Some people decide to travel during this time to see other destinations and to simply experience the magic of Christmas season. There are so many places around the world to choose from. From all the places on the planet I chose the place where Santa Claus oficially lives – Finland.

Finnish Decorations

The straw goat is a common Christmas decoration in Finland. The straw goat is placed in the town square during Advent, and many people come to visit it. Every evening until Christmas Eve, a ceremony takes place where the straw figure is set on fire which represents Old Nick leaving for his home in Lapland (the North Pole). After Old Nick leaves, Santa Claus arrives! Finnish children believe that if they are good, Santa Claus will leave them a present at the goat.

The city creates a fantastic world and if you love to celebrate a white Christmas, it is the perfect place to go.

Christmas Town: Rovaniemi

This is the top Christmas destination as this is the place where officially Santa Claus lives and you can visit his workshop and post office during the Christmas season! Santa has red and white clothes and is the most popular resident in the city. You can follow him in reindeer-dotted forests and observe his elves preparing the toys.

Rajaportti Sauna

According to Wikipedia: „The Finnish sauna is a substantial part of Finnish and Estonian culture. It was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists at the December 17, 2020 meeting of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage”.

Taking a sauna is a popular Christmas activity in Finland. You can relax in the sauna and then jump into the snow to cool off! Located in the old district of Pispala in Tampere, Rajaportti is the oldest public sauna in Finlan that is still in use today. The sauna was originally built in 1906 by Hermanni and Maria Lahtinen. Still heated by wood in the traditional manner, Rajaportti offers soft, pleasant steam and transports guests back in time. Visit the cosy courtyard café for traditional sauna sausages, freshly baked cinnamon buns, comforting soups, and select artisan beers from local brewers. A traditional massage will complete the experience.

Sleep Under the Northern Lights

Northern Lights are visible roughly 200 nights a year in Finnish Laplands

If you will be lucky enough, you might see the Northern Lights shimmering in the sky during Christmas time.

I recommend the village of Nellim by Lake Inari that has one of the most beautiful Lapland’s scenery. Stay the night in an Aurora Bubble at the Wilderness Hotel Nellim for a unique view of the Northern Lights.

Arctic Snowhotel

If you want to experience something unique during your trip to Finland, the Arctic Snow Hotel is one of the most popular tourist attractions. It’s located in Kemi and can be visited in December. The rooms are made entirely out of snow! The 360-degree glass roof of the Glass Igloo provides you with the best possible views of the the starry nights. There is restaurant and bar to enjoy during the cold nights. The tables are made from ice. Tasty three-course dinner is served, and in the Ice Bar drinks are served in glasses made entirely from ice!

Whether you decide to spend this CHristmas in Finnland or not, we wish you and your family very Merry Christmas, and a happy New Year. The Akademos Team!

Vocabulary

straw  – dried stalks of grain, used especially as fodder or as material for thatching, packing, or weaving (słoma)

reindeer – a deer of the tundra and subarctic regions of Eurasia and North America, both sexes of which have large branching antlers. Most Eurasian reindeer are domesticated and used for drawing sleds and as a source of milk, flesh, and hide (renifer)

intangible – unable to be touched or grasped ( nieuchwytny, nienamacalny)

steam – the vapor into which water is converted when heated, forming a white mist of minute water droplets in the air (para)

bun – a bread roll of various shapes and flavorings, typically sweetened and often containing dried fruit. (bułeczka)

shimmer – shine with a soft tremulous light ( migotać)