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.
Christmas goat :) gotta love the solstice traditions!
ReplyDeleteGood for you!! :D But I did not say I don't believe in you not writing at all, I said I do believe you will write at least once during the next 1,5 years :D
ReplyDeleteI had to check myself why we use the christmas goat, and yes it seems to be a bit creepy part of our history :D
The goat in the pagan times depicted fertility and after the winter solstice it appeared because the spring would come and the lights are lit in the darkness to bring the spring. So, since we are a bit gloomy people, we had a man dress up as a goat with horns (from shamanism, to become like a goat), wearing a fur coat upside down and a goat mask. The purpose was to frighten children and eat all the excess food left from christmas and to drink alcohol from each house visited. He demanded gifts, did not give them until later times. Then we integrated with the British Father Christmas and later came the Coca Cola :D AND THE SANTA LIVES IN LAPLAND!! :D
And while in Sweden, watch for the Gävle Yule Goat, it'll be criminally burn like every year :P
Also, do NOT forget to watch the Rare Exports!! (a VERY different Santa film from Lapland, gloomy but humorous) I already showed this to Amanda, but rest of you interested, see how nuts the Finns can be by watching the trailer: http://www.rareexportsmovie.com/en#trailer
-Anu the Heahshrinker
We watched it last night! It was awesome!! :D
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