Finnish Showcase: Celebrating the Holidays in Helsinki

To wrap up our virtual tour of Finland, we’ve decided to spend a little time dreaming about the holiday season in Helsinki. Imagining the picturesque blanket of soft white snow and visiting quaint craft vendors has us already thinking about where we might like to visit in 2015...

via Flickr by Timo Newton-Syms

Helsinki is well known for it’s festive flair during the holiday season. Not only are you almost guaranteed to experience a white Christmas in this city, but it’s also home to Aleksanterinkatu (the official Christmas street) and the St. Thomas Christmas Market. We just can’t let go of the holiday season quite yet!

Aleksanterinkatu

Aleksanterinkatu, or Alexander Street, is renowned for it’s brilliant display of festive lighting and competitive window display decorating. This beautiful lighting tradition began in 1949 by the shopkeepers of the street that wished to bring light and hope to the residents of Helsinki.

via Flickr by hugovk

This past November Aleksanterinkau celebrated its 66^th annual lighting, which is now commonly viewed as the opening of the Christmas season. The official lighting ceremony (attended by none other than Father Christmas!) is followed by the annual Christmas Parade down the street and into the city center.

St. Thomas Christmas Market

How could we speak of the Christmas season in Helsinki without mentioning the St. Thomas Christmas Market? We can’t. This market is practically synonymous with all things festive and Finnish!

Every year this market opens up in the Senate Square, in the heart of Helsinki. Open every day in December during the days leading up to Christmas, this market becomes home to more than 120 stalls. Vendors will carry everything from handmade crafts, to traditional Finnish food and drinks, and of course you will also be able to find a fabulous selection of Christmas decorations.

via Flickr by hugovk

Handmade trinkets, beautiful lights and the possibility of fluffy snowflakes? This sounds like a pretty perfect Christmas to me!

Have you ever spent part (or all) of the holiday season in Helsinki? If so, tell us what your favourite part was...we’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

Finnish Foodie Showcase: What to Expect at the Joulupöytä

via Flickr by Cat

Perhaps our favourite part of Christmas is the food...  In keeping with the theme of our country of the month, we’ve decided to shine the spotlight on a few traditional Finnish dishes that are particularly popular during the holiday season.

Joulupöytä refers to the traditional assortment of foods served at a Finnish Christmas dinner. It’s also interesting to note that in Finland, Christmas dinner is served on Christmas Eve (instead of Christmas Day). Of course, this makes perfect sense since Father Christmas visits the children of Finland a little later that evening!

Let’s take a closer look at a few Joulupöytä essentials:

Glögi – Mulled Wine

Photo via Kitchen Parade

Enjoyed in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic forms, glögi (or mulled wine) is an absolute mainstay during Finnish Christmas festivities. Spiced with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and orange peel (among other ingredients), this drink is sure to warm you up on even the coldest of days.

Click here for Kitchen Parade's complete recipe.

Piparkakku – Gingerbread Cookies

Photo via Pure Vege

Whether they are “naked” or “dressed,” Piparkakku are a popular festive treat for the young (and young at heart)! These wouldn’t last too long here at Robin Street Market...

Click here for Pure Vege’s complete recipe.

Riisipuuro - Rice Pudding

Photo via Scandi Foodie

This is common as both a side at dinner, or sometimes even as breakfast. While rice pudding is a popular Christmas dish in many Scandinavian and Nordic countries, the Finns have their own take on this favourite. A widespread Finnish tradition actually involves hiding a whole almond in the pudding – the person who eats the almond will have good luck during the following year!

Click here for Scandi Foodie’s complete recipe.

Lanttulaatikko - Rutabaga Casserole

Photo via Girl Cooks World

Simple but oh-so-delicious, this casserole will always have a place at a Finnish Christmas feast. Root vegetables really do make some scrumptious sides!

Click here for Girl Cooks World’s complete recipe.

Joulukinkku - Oven-Baked Ham

Photo via girlichef

Last but not least, a Finnish Christmas dinner wouldn’t be complete without an oven-baked ham. Finns usually enjoy this dish served with mustard or bread...and all of the other dishes that we’ve already mentioned above!

Click here for girlichef’s complete recipe.

Looks good enough to eat, doesn’t it?

Weekly Market Round-Up: December 20-21

Less than a week to go ‘til Christmas! But don’t worry...there’s still a little time to squeeze in some last minute holiday shopping.

via Flickr by Francois Schnell

Here are our top picks for craft fairs and markets this weekend:

Saturday, December 20^th   

Cardiff Christmas Market 

10AM-5:30PM, St. John’s Street, Working Street, the Hayes and Trinity Street, Cardiff, Wales

Christmas Fair 

Plaça de l’església, Arenys de Mar, Barcelona, Spain

Last Chance Craft Fair 

11AM-5PM, The Croation Cultural Centre, Vancouver, Canada

Rose St Artists' Market

11AM-5PM, 60 Rose, St, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia

Swansea Christmas Street Market 

10AM-5:30PM, Oxford Street, Swansea, Wales

The Artisans’ Gift Fair 

12PM-6PM, The Tranzac Club, Toronto, Canada

via Flickr by Michela Simoncini

Sunday, December 21^st

Arts Centre Melbourne Sunday Market 

10AM-4PM, The Arts Centre, Melbourne, Australia

Boroondara Farmers Market

Patterson Reserve, Victoria, Australia

Cardiff Christmas Market 

10AM-5PM, St. John’s Street, Working Street, the Hayes and Trinity Street, Cardiff, Wales

Fierucola di Natale 

9AM-7PM, Piazza Santo Spirito, Florence, Italy

Last Chance Craft Fair 

11AM-5PM, The Croation Cultural Centre, Vancouver, Canada

Rose St Artists' Market

11AM-5PM, 60 Rose, St, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia

The Artisans’ Gift Fair 

12PM-6PM, The Tranzac Club, Toronto, Canada

via Flickr by Michela Simoncini

Are you planning on visiting any craft markets this weekend? Let us know in the comments below so we can add them to our list.

Cute Crafty Things: Upcycled Treasures' DIY Wood Slice Christmas Ornaments

As Christmas draws closer we can’t help but think about all the different ways to make our own festive goodies and decorations...it’s just too much fun!

Photo by Upcycled Treasures

We stumbled upon these ornaments earlier this week and simply had to share them with you. Upcycled Treasures made these little treats with sliced birch logs, eyehooks, twine and some creativity.

Photo by Upcycled Treasures

Bonus: Upcycled Treasures has even provided her readers with some templates for images to transfer onto the ornaments. Click here for the full tutorial.

Photo by Upcycled Treasures