So, I know I am terrible at this. But I think it's my perfectionism that is getting in the way (my Finnish friend Anu is well on her way to becoming a pro headshrinker, and she seems to think so. She lost faith that I would write another post, so in your face Anu!). So, I think I will just try to post little things instead of only having long, elaborate posts...because it's more important that I at least give something back to my adoring public!! So here, a gift of Christmas cheer, correspondence from moi!
Something that has kind of peeved me since I've been here is the fact that Finns start the Christmas season so early. They were putting out Christmas candy in the stores in mid-October! But apparently it also irritates at least some of the Finns; my 'friendship family' here says that by the time Christmas comes they are already tired of Christmas food, because they've been having it for two months already. Since Finns don't celebrate Halloween (except for some bars/clubs) or Thanksgiving, it makes it easy for the food companies to start pushing their wares earlier and earlier...there aren't really any holidays in August or September either, so I don't know what could stop them from putting out Christmas chocolate in July...but I'm getting off track.
Also, Santa isn't necessarily fat in Finland. And, the Finnish word for Santa translates to "Christmas goat". Yes. I don't think missionaries really tried that hard to stamp out the Pagan solstice traditions when they came to the Nordic countries. Sweden also has a Christmas goat. It's creepy as hell.
