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...
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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.
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via Flickr by hugovk |
This past November Aleksanterinkau
celebrated its 66th 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.
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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!