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1. A pretty accurate cultural comparison. One distinction in the Santa Claus tradition, however: obesity is not a prerequisite for the Finnish Joulupukki.

   Some older depictions do not even have him wearing red, and the coat that the Finnish guy has is often more like a robe - reaching his ankles.

   Comment by Kimmo W. — Mon, Dec 25th, 2006 @ 12:21 pm

2. What other countries around the world believe that Santa is from Finland?

   Comment by Phil — Mon, Dec 25th, 2006 @ 12:31 pm

3. You could add something about the start of X-Mas marketing. In US Thanksgiving is the official start of X-Mas countdown. In Finland, there doesn’t seem to be this “one day”, but rather a smooth transition from the newly established Halloween “season” to the X-Mas season.

   Comment by Die-Hard-Capitalist — Mon, Dec 25th, 2006 @ 12:35 pm

4. #2: It varies. I understand that in Britain, a generic “Lapland” has been the traditional home of Father Christmas, which would account for much of the charter flight Christmas tourism to Finnish Lapland. Apparently the Korvatunturi office gets mail from kids from many countries.

   The Danes put him in Greenland.

   Comment by Kimmo W. — Mon, Dec 25th, 2006 @ 1:59 pm

5. Yeah, there’s lots of speculation. But, it’s mostly for political reasons. There should be no doubt that Santa lives in Rovaniemi. Here, he is enjoying the summer months. A very approachable fellow………..usually.

   http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2688513140100009357HOcevT

   Comment by Kristian (in Espoo) — Mon, Dec 25th, 2006 @ 2:22 pm

6. In Finland, there doesn’t seem to be this “one day”

   Yah, I agree, there isn’t “one day”, the xmas season in the US begins after Thanksgiving, while Finland’s xmas seasons begins after independence day.

   Comment by Phil — Mon, Dec 25th, 2006 @ 2:28 pm

7. #2: It varies. I understand that in Britain, a generic “Lapland” has been the traditional home of Father Christmas, which would account for much of the charter flight Christmas tourism to Finnish Lapland. Apparently the Korvatunturi office gets mail from kids from many countries.

   Seems quite pompous for Finns to think that Santa comes from Finland.

   Comment by Phil — Mon, Dec 25th, 2006 @ 2:31 pm

8. “What i got for Christmas from Finland!” by infinndel
   It is 7 A.M.,Christmas morning here in Massachusetts…
   I just played a CD I received from my relative Keke from Tampere.
   After hearing this CD,my always tenuous grip on reality was destroyed by “M.A.NUMMINEN IN ENGLISH”…Numminen is a demented genius of Finnish cultural history comparable to FRANK ZAPPA!….Pass infinndel the psychiatric meds NOW!…or get me the KOSKENKORVA!….

   Comment by inFINNdel — Mon, Dec 25th, 2006 @ 2:55 pm

9. “Seems quite pompous for Finns to think that Santa comes from Finland. ”

   Ahem, 46% of all people living between the north pole and the Helsinki latitude are finns, so the odds for Santa being finnish are quite high.

   

   Comment by Antti (the redneck one) — Mon, Dec 25th, 2006 @ 3:44 pm

10. #2: I believe the Japanese also share the view that Santa comes from Finland (though, I can’t really back this up). Even with only 1% of Japanese being Christian, AFAIK christmas is still a big celebration for them.

    Also, I’d like to note that turkey is actually becoming more popular in Finnish christmas table, since there’s quite a lot of people who perfer turkey over ham.

    Comment by Rithiur — Mon, Dec 25th, 2006 @ 3:52 pm

11. According to glögi cartons’ english text glögi is “glogg” in english.

    Comment by PTJ Uusitalo — Mon, Dec 25th, 2006 @ 4:18 pm

12. Sorry to break it down to yall but there is no Santa so who gives a flying f* where he is from? ^^

    Comment by Plasma — Mon, Dec 25th, 2006 @ 5:55 pm

13. !!!MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

    Santa’s Corporate Headquarters are in North Pole, Alaska. For tax purposes of course!

    Plasma,
    Are you calling my Mom a lier?

    Comment by fred fry — Mon, Dec 25th, 2006 @ 6:26 pm

14. I didn’t get what I wanted, sigh can’t win em all.

    Comment by Stefan Constantinescu — Mon, Dec 25th, 2006 @ 8:05 pm

15. One more thing to add to the list: the Finnish Christmas tree is always a (shabby) Norway spruce, whereas Americans will appreciate almost any kind of evergreen tree, such as a pine, cypress or cedar tree, as long as it’s shaped as a spruce/fir.

    Comment by molla — Mon, Dec 25th, 2006 @ 8:59 pm

16. Yes I concentrated on destroying the turkey this year. It just tastes superior.

    Comment by m — Tue, Dec 26th, 2006 @ 12:43 am

17. infinndel traveled to Rovaniemi Finland,on the arctic circle, about 7 years ago….Here is an actual account of the meeting of Santa and infinndel in his main office:
    “What I want for Christmas” by infinndel
    Santa:’Tell me,what brings you here to the arctic circle,Mr.infinndel!?”
    infinndel:”Santa,I came here to ask you for a new computer for Christmas.
    Santa:”What kind of computer do you prefer?….Do you want a Macintosh computer…or a PC type?”.
    infinndel:”I would like to get a DELL PC computer,but I’m afraid you will not give me a computer because I have been a bad boy”… ;(
    Santa:”Why is that?”
    infinndel:”Well,you see Santa….I have been surfing the naughty
    girl websites!”…..
    Santa:”Hmmmmm…..Well…ok….You can have your Dell computer for Christmas,this year,as long as you promise to surf the naughty websites only during the day,and not at night!”

    This is a true story,only infinndel’s true identity is not revealed to protect him….No reindeer were harmed during infinndel’s visit to Rovaniemi…

    Comment by inFINNdel — Tue, Dec 26th, 2006 @ 1:25 am

18. Did you all see this one about how they catch and tame the wild Santas?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6×02LroEkE

    Comment by Kimmo W. — Tue, Dec 26th, 2006 @ 2:29 pm

19. Kimmo, Rare Exports Inc. has apparently had few product liability cases, as they have published part II of Santa catching film:

    http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3250058353113102779

    This absolutely not for the children or those with similar mind.

    Comment by Antti (the redneck one) — Tue, Dec 26th, 2006 @ 3:29 pm

20. Traditionally, the Finnish Santa has also been invisible. When I was a kid, there was often just a mysterious knock on the front door but when it was opened, there was no one there. Just a big basket full of presents. Santa did pay a visit on occasion. He looked exactly like my grandpa. Imagine that.

    Comment by Anzi — Wed, Dec 27th, 2006 @ 1:32 pm

21. I have always been under the impression that as late as the ’60s the Finnish Christmas season was kicked off by ‘Little Christmas’, which is the day that trees were decorated. My memory is also that. like Sweden, the Lutheran ‘Advent Calendar’ was popular. have both of these traditions been forgotten?

    Comment by KIERKEGAARD — Wed, Dec 27th, 2006 @ 9:59 pm

22. It’s true that the Christmas season begins for many with “little Christmas” parties, but there is no set day for having them. And Advent Calendars are still popular, but I’ve seen them in Britain quite often also, so it not just Lutherian tradition. And nowadays they are mosten often chocolate calendars.

    And my (very avarage Finnish) family has always eaten turkey for christmas dinner. The mood has more to do with the people you’re spending christmas with than the country you’re in. My Christmases haven’t been that seremonial or solemn in years. Maybe a bit peacefull, but in a good way. And our Santa has sounded very much like my cousin for a very long time. And almost every year Santa delivers presents for santa himself. Those elves must be very absent minded…

    Comment by Anni — Thu, Dec 28th, 2006 @ 12:13 am

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