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For me (and other Europeans) this is a day late, lol. Over here in the Nordics we started celebrating already yesterday, on Christmas Eve. Santa brings our presents at Christmas Eve evening, often visiting families in person (here in Finland plenty of student boys make extra money doing a few gigs as Santas). I actually saw a Santa with an elf waiting to cross the street when I drove to my mum's.
Yesterday morning I went to do a bit final shopping before all the stores closed at noon. Then I visited the cemetery and lit some candles at our family grave. Then I went home to see the live stream of the Declaration of Christmas Peace from the city of Turku at noon, had a quick shower and drove over to my mum's place for food, coffee and presents (I gave her coffee, chocolate truffles and some new notebooks, she gave me a pair of hand-knitted woolen socks). We watched television, including the traditional Disney Christmas cartoon "From All of Us to All of You". I drove home late at night, and did a few detours around the nearby extra rich neighbourhood to see all the lights and decorations.
Today it is Christmas Day, when everyone stays happily at home, enjoying the quiet time. Christmas Day is still considered a literal "holy day" despite us being a very secular country. My guess is that everyone is happy to have an excuse to not to go anywhere and just take it easy. Bars are open, though, and there are people who like to go there, because even those places are quieter and calmer today. Tomorrow is Tapaninpäivä, the day of St. Stephen (the Second Christmas Day), and that is the traditional visiting and gathering day. I'll be going again to my mum's, and possibly visit some friends.
It "is a traditional Finnish event whereby a town formally announces the beginning of the Christmas season. This practice has its roots in old Swedish legislation and was established by Birger Jarl (a Swedish regent during the Early Middle Ages) in the 13th century, building upon the Truce of God tradition. Offenders who committed crimes during the Christmas season were subjected to harsher punishments. The declaration of Christmas Peace is a symbolic and integral part of the Christmas tradition in Finland in the present day. Tradition encourages people to be respectful and peaceful at Christmas."
Finland is the last place where the tradition has survived unbroken from the Medieval Era until the 21st century.
"In modern times, the message is largely symbolic. For many Finns, the Declaration of Christmas Peace marks the beginning of the festive season."
"The present text has its origins in a transcription from memory onto parchment by the town clerk after the original was lost in a Great Fire in 1827. English translation of the Turku Declaration of Christmas Peace:
Tomorrow, God willing,
is the graceful celebration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour;
and thus is declared a peaceful Christmas time to all, by advising devotion and to behave otherwise quietly and peacefully,
because he who breaks this peace and violates the peace of Christmas by any illegal or improper behaviour shall under aggravating circumstances be guilty and punished according to what the law and statutes prescribe for each and every offence separately.
Finally, a joyous Christmas feast is wished to all inhabitants of the city."
Oh, yeah - you can see the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb with his family among the crowd. It probably says something that they do not need extra security here. :)
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And many happy returns, hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
For me (and other Europeans) this is a day late, lol. Over here in the Nordics we started celebrating already yesterday, on Christmas Eve. Santa brings our presents at Christmas Eve evening, often visiting families in person (here in Finland plenty of student boys make extra money doing a few gigs as Santas). I actually saw a Santa with an elf waiting to cross the street when I drove to my mum's.
Yesterday morning I went to do a bit final shopping before all the stores closed at noon. Then I visited the cemetery and lit some candles at our family grave. Then I went home to see the live stream of the Declaration of Christmas Peace from the city of Turku at noon, had a quick shower and drove over to my mum's place for food, coffee and presents (I gave her coffee, chocolate truffles and some new notebooks, she gave me a pair of hand-knitted woolen socks). We watched television, including the traditional Disney Christmas cartoon "From All of Us to All of You". I drove home late at night, and did a few detours around the nearby extra rich neighbourhood to see all the lights and decorations.
Today it is Christmas Day, when everyone stays happily at home, enjoying the quiet time. Christmas Day is still considered a literal "holy day" despite us being a very secular country. My guess is that everyone is happy to have an excuse to not to go anywhere and just take it easy. Bars are open, though, and there are people who like to go there, because even those places are quieter and calmer today. Tomorrow is Tapaninpäivä, the day of St. Stephen (the Second Christmas Day), and that is the traditional visiting and gathering day. I'll be going again to my mum's, and possibly visit some friends.
You can watch this year's Declaration of Christmas Peace everywhere in the world, if you want to settle in to the holidays. In the modern era the religious message is not really the point, but simply having a clear mark that now you can leave all the hustle and bustle behind for a few days (and remember to behave nicely).
It "is a traditional Finnish event whereby a town formally announces the beginning of the Christmas season. This practice has its roots in old Swedish legislation and was established by Birger Jarl (a Swedish regent during the Early Middle Ages) in the 13th century, building upon the Truce of God tradition. Offenders who committed crimes during the Christmas season were subjected to harsher punishments. The declaration of Christmas Peace is a symbolic and integral part of the Christmas tradition in Finland in the present day. Tradition encourages people to be respectful and peaceful at Christmas."
Finland is the last place where the tradition has survived unbroken from the Medieval Era until the 21st century.
"In modern times, the message is largely symbolic. For many Finns, the Declaration of Christmas Peace marks the beginning of the festive season."
"The present text has its origins in a transcription from memory onto parchment by the town clerk after the original was lost in a Great Fire in 1827. English translation of the Turku Declaration of Christmas Peace:
Tomorrow, God willing,
is the graceful celebration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour;
and thus is declared a peaceful Christmas time to all, by advising devotion and to behave otherwise quietly and peacefully,
because he who breaks this peace and violates the peace of Christmas by any illegal or improper behaviour shall under aggravating circumstances be guilty and punished according to what the law and statutes prescribe for each and every offence separately.
Finally, a joyous Christmas feast is wished to all inhabitants of the city."
Oh, yeah - you can see the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb with his family among the crowd. It probably says something that they do not need extra security here. :)
Merry Christmas! 🎄