Christmas Eve is the most important day in Finland. The excitement mounts as the family awaits a quite different aspect of Christmas: the arrival of Father Christmas. The Finnish Father Christmas is a more earthly equivalent of St. Nicholas. Finland differs from most other countries in that Father Christmas really does visit the home in person on Christmas
Eve. Most often it is in fact father dressed up, but it may be a neighbour or relative. The children dress up as
Father Christmas' little helpers: red tights, a long red cap, and a grey cotton suit also decorated with red. On his arrival, Father Christmas always asks the
same question: "Are there any good children here?", and the answer is always an enthusiastic "Yes". The earliest reports of Christmas presents being given within families in Finland date from the early years of the 19th century. The presents were often made by donors themselves and included items such as clothes or something nice to eat. In the early decades of the 20th century manufactured presents became common and spread throughout the country. In recent years home-made gifts have again become popular. Father Christmas generally brings in a big basket with all the presents, the children sing to him and may even sing a ring game with him. Then Father Christmas tells them how far he has come, all the way from Lapland, a long, long journey. He lives at Korvatunturi, a fell in eastern Lapland. (The Finnish
Broadcasting Company placed him there in 1927, and he has had his headquarters there ever since.) Father Christmas can't afford to spend long in
any one place. As soon as the children and adults have sung him one last
song, he takes up his stick and tramps off in his felt boots and furs. His little helpers are left to hand out the presents.
Not until this most important event on the programme has been taken care of
is the main Christmas meal served. Now the table is decked with the best
mother can provide.
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