Oct 18, 2006

N. Europe during Christmastime

Christmas in Northern Europe is like six week long holiday, starting in mid November and lasting until New Year’s Day. Cities bring out their festive street decorations, open Christmas markets, hold Christmas concerts, and sell Christmas food. Stores hold Christmas sales. It is a reason to party, for young and old alike, during the dark days of winter.

The Nordic capitals of Stockholm, Reykjavik, Copenhagen, Helsinki, and Oslo roll out the red carpet in preparation for Christmas. The cities are brimming with Christmas markets, one of my favorite Christmastime pursuits in the region. Stroll down Helsinki’s “Joulukatu” (Alexander Street, or Alexanderinkatu, becomes “Christmas Street” In December) to gaze at the Christmas window displays. Stop the Women’s Christmas Fair in the Vanha Satama hall for locally made Finnish handicrafts. Drive 45 minutes east to Porvoo for their their old fashioned Christmas market and outdoor holiday displays. Munch on freshly baked Swedish gingerbread while listening to Christmas carolers walking through Stockholm’s Gamla Stan (Old Town). Stay warm with a glass of hot glögg in Copenhagen’s Tivoli Park while admiring the holiday lights, or go to Grey Hall for an “alternative” Christmas market in the hippie enclave of Copenhagen’s Christiania. Or, just eat like a king at a traditional Christmas smorgasbord at an Icelandic restaurant.

Finns, Swedes, Norwegians, and Danes lay stake to the claim that the real Santa Claus lives in the Lapland region (sometimes called Sami land after the nomadic Sami people who still live there) of respective countries. Lapland stretches across the northern tips of Norway, Sweden, and Finland. The Danes believe that Santa actually lives in Greenland, while Icelanders tell stories about thirteen elves who come down from the mountains to make mischief.

Regardless of what you “believe,” there is fun to be had in each country, whether you are celebrating Swedish, Norwegian, or Danish jul, Finnish joulu, or Icelandic jól.

Check back over the next few weeks as I feature Christmas events, celebrations, and fun things to do in the Northern European countries this November and December.