Finland's Christmas Traditions

Although Christmas in Finland starts on the First Advert, which falls on the first Sunday of December, most people bring in the season on Saint Lucia Day on December 13 or as early as December 6, which is Finland’s Independence Day. Saint Lucia was a 3rd century martyr who used a candle lit wreath as a light source in order to fill her hands with as much food as she could carry for Christians who were in hiding. Although she would later be killed by Romans because of her religious beliefs, she is celebrated to this day. On Saint Lucia Day there would be many festivities including a portrayal of the martyr by a chosen girl who wears white and wears a wreath of candle in honour of the saint.
In Finland, most of the Christmas traditions are carried out on Christmas Eve. These include going to Saunas, visiting cemeteries to remember lost ones and going to mass for Catholics. Visiting Saunas are often believed to be just as important as Christmas dinner. They to be cleaned, decorated with candles and some families freeze or dry birch branches to bring to the Sauna on Christmas Eve. There is also a tradition of having porridge in which an almond is placed. Whoever receives the almond is considered the luckiest in attendance and has to sing a song. Christmas Gifts are usually exchanged on Christmas Eve as well. 

The cutting down of the tree is very popular and many families go to the forest with Hot Chocolate to cut down the trees themselves. Christmas Dinner is also served on Christmas Eve, traditionally it includes oven baked ham, beetroot salad, homemade beer and Glogi.

The traditions /ideas associated with Santa Claus is also different as it believed that Santa or ‘Joulupukki’ (literally translates to Yule Goat or Christmas Goat) lives in Finland. The original story of Joulupukki story is also based on a mean goat and comes from pagan festivities that celebrate Thor, the god of Lightening.  Though decorations in the form of a goat is quite popular, the Santa of now, does not fly but is pulled by reindeers as he knocks on doors looking for good children to give gifts. This typically happens after dinner on Christmas Eve. Gifts are only left under the tree if Joulupukki is unable to come on his own. Reindeer food in Finland is usually put out to help Santa’s reindeer find their way to your house.
Christmas Day itself is seen as a day of reflection where people usually relax at home or visit family or friends and celebrations usually end on January 6. 

There is a lot more about Christmas in Finland and the festivals associated with it but the best way to find out about it would be to go out and experience it yourself.