Maybe I am a bit late for this - it's already New Year in Finland!
Onnellista Uutta Vuotta (Happy New Year in Finnish).
As my last post for this year, I thought I'd share how we celebrate the arrival of the New Year in Finland.
This is what my family used to do on New Year's Eve.
Somebody always hosts a party on New Year's Eve. Mom, Dad and I used to hop on the snowmobile (I love snowmobiles!) and drive through the frozen and snowy lakes to our friends house. Sometimes the parties were out in a cabin in the woods and it would take a few hours to drive there with the snowmobile.
No surprise, New Year's Eve also includes going to Sauna - what doesn't - and usually the women go together to sauna, then the children (if they are old enough) and then men. Sometimes families take turns. Most of the time, drinking is involved... well, ok, all the time.
The traditional food for the evening is Finnish sausage (wish I had some right now) and hot dogs. We would either grill them in the fireplace (wood burning fireplaces from where I come from) or we would wrap them in tinfoil and throw them on the hot rocks/stone in the sauna. Now that is good!For entertainment the kids (old enough) usually drive around on the snowmobiles while the adults are partying.
Closer to midnight. We take out some horseshoe shaped tin. Bought from any store. We melt the tin either on a stove or in the fireplace. Once the tin is melted we toss it either in a bucket of snow or cold water. We fish out the tin art and try to interpret what the New Year will hold for us. I prefer tossing it into the bucket of snow. It makes prettier shapes.
At midnight we too watch fireworks. Usually it is really cold! If we are in the woods, we shoot our own, if we are in the "civilization" we take the snowmobiles to a perfect viewing location on the lake.
The fireworks shows in my hometown were never quite what I have seen since in the U.S. but when you are a kid, it is all very exciting.
I miss my family in Finland, especially during the holidays. If my aunt is reading this - the one with the computer :) - Rakkaita terveisia kaikille!
Happy New Year everyone
Copyright 2008.© Kenna and Co. Rita Burke. Denver CO Luxury Homes and real estate. All Rights Reserved. Dec 31st 2008. "Bringing in the New Year the Finnish Way"
Comments(14)