Christmas in Finland is the most important holiday of the year. Annual Christmas markets are great places to try traditional Finnish Christmas foods and to shop for homemade gifts.
Women's Christmas Market 2011
The Women's Christmas Market is organized by the Women's Cultural Association and has a long tradition. This year's market is the 80th annual Xmas market and it is held in the Wanha Satama exhibition centre. The first fair in 1922 was held by the Finnish Feminist Association to encourage Finnish women to create their own products and earn their own income.
The women sell homemade handicrafts, textiles, gifts, knitwear, jewellery, wood and leather work, Christmas decorations and both sweet and savoury homemade treats and traditional Christmas food.
Time: 2. to 6.12.2011 (Fri-Mon 10 am to 6 pm and Tue10am to 5 pm)
Pikku Satamakatu 3–5, Helsinki
St. Thomas Christmas Market 2011
The annual St. Thomas Christmas Market (Tuomaan markkinat) is a Helsinki tradition. This year the market is held on the Senate Square by the Helsinki Cathedral (unlike many previous markets that were organized in the Esplanade Park). More than 120 stalls take over this picturesque square from 3 to 18 December 2011 and sell handicrafts, gifts, Christmas foods and baked goods.
Time: 3 to 18 December 2011
Place: Senate Square, Helsinki
The Christmas Market in the Old Student House
The Old Student House Christmas Market from 11 to 22 December 2011 is another Helsinki tradition. Stalls sell handicrafts, clothes, knitwear, gifts, Christmas decorations, baked goods and other traditional treats, clothes and Christmas cards.
Time: 11 to 22.12.2011
Place: Vanha ylioppilastalo, Mannerheimintie 3, Helsinki
Christmas Markets in Turku
A traditional Christmas market is also held in Turku, Finland's medieval capital and one of the European Capitals of Culture 2011. The Old Great Square hosts a market on the four weekends leading up to Christmas (called the advent weekends). Stalls sell handicrafts, food and drinks. Kids can meet Santa in his grotto, and the historic Brinkkala House has an old-style café with traditional Christmas delicacies and hot drinks.
Where: The Old Great Square, Turku
When: the 4 weekends before Christmas: (27.11.; 3.–4.12.; 10.–11.12. and 17.–18.12.2011. From 11 am to 5 pm.
Christmas Market Shopping Tips
Things to buy include handicrafts, knitwear, woodwork, Finnish design, homemade sweets and baked goods, homemade mustard (a typical accompaniment to a traditional Finnish Christmas meal), pickles and jams. Take a break from shopping every now and then and try gingerbread, Christmas tarts (joulutortut), cinnamon buns and cakes, have a mug of glögi (Finnish version of mulled wine) or buy some to take home.
