A Rare Finnish Export?

"Just before the first snow of winter falls, professional hunters begin their work. The long process of tracking, hunting and transforming this king of the forest into a finished product is a time consuming process, but the final outcome is a reason to celebrate" Rare Exports Inc. 

I first came across the Rare Exports short films about five years ago in London at a Finnish film festival at the Barbican. In amongst the subtitled darkness of Louhimies' Paha Maa ('Frozen Land' - although paha literally translates as bad or evil) and a brace of painterly and bleak yet comedic Kaurismäki's* (such as Kauas pilvet karkaavat or 'Drifting Clouds') were two short interlopers directed by Jalmari Healander revealing the 'real' story behind Finland's most famous seasonal and rare export... (which can both be seen here)

Dear (secret) santa

One of our family (pre)-Christmas traditions is the writing and exchange of Christmas lists.  It never really occurred to me until recently how potentially strange it is for a grown man to be writing a list 'for santa' still, although these days it is an email that goes to Mum and siblings.  We don't think it strange, quite useful in fact to have a few hints, especially when you don't see each other much, but Konna has always found the whole thing odd and refuses to write a list for herself (and looks oddly at whatever item I have suggested to some member of my family). On the other hand she usually agrees or even buys herself, her present from her Mum, and is certainly not above heavy hints to me. At least our way there is some element of surprise...

18 - Joulupukki (the real Santa Claus)

Joulupukki via

Okay, I don't want to hear any of your nonsense about Santa living at the north pole.

Joulupukki (which is the name for the official santa/father christmas/st. nicholas type gift-giving entity in these parts) lives in Finnish lapland, with his workshop near Korvatunturi (which means ear mountain - so that is how he hears what all of you good/bad boys/girls have been up to; as well as his tontu keeping an eye on you of course).  It's obvious if you think about it - where do reindeer live? Lapland! And what pulls Santa's sleigh...? Exactly!  These days he also has an office in Rovaneimi - from where he starts off to deliver christmas presents at 7pm on Christmas eve - if you don't believe me you can see it broadcast live.

Also that stuff about coming down chimneys at midnight is wrong too, as every Finnish child will tell you joulupukki often comes into the home on christmas eve about 7pm (so still a bit magical to do that everywhere at once...) after the Chrismas meal and hands over the goods in person  - none of that skulking around eating mince pies, drinking sherry and not being seen around here than you very much.

Of course this could all been started by eating the wrong kind of mushrooms, but at least these days joulupukki doesn't have horns, or demand presents from frightened children as he was said to in the past.

So it just remains to be asked: Onkos täällä kilttejä lapsia?