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| From Finland winter 06/07 |
In the morning, it is traditional to eat riisipuru which is salted with 'lucky' almonds for the unwary. Then (if you have one) perhaps a morning sauna to get relaxed (and clean) for the day's 'exertions'. The visit to the cemetery to place candles on family graves is perhaps for me the strangest thing of the day, with no similar tradition at home; traffic jams forming at the main cemeteries, directed by police make the whole thing slightly surreal, although the sight of the snowy graveyard filled with candles in the early darkness is eerily pretty.
By tradition dinner can start when the first star is in the sky (not sure what you do if it's cloudy) and the birds have been fed. After dinner, joulupukki and his tonttu may visit to deliver the presents... although strangely ours are already under the tree. Hmm.
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So then to the groaning christmas pöytä, from which one can take food for the rest of the afternoon and evening. But how does it compare to (tomorrow's) traditional British christmas dinner? Last year we even managed to have both (with my family in UK) so here are both for the curious of both nations...
Starters
Suomi: Lax (smoked salmon), Silli (Herrings in various sauces), Fish roe
UK: Scottish smoked salmon & champange
Suomi: Lutefish (pre-soaked in lye... probably an aquired taste)
UK: nothing comparable
Suomi: Joulukinkku - the huge christmas ham: cooked overnight, slavered in mustard and breadcrumbs
UK: Turkey - huge, golden, with fragrant stuffing (the older British tradition is actually Goose, but I've never eaten that)
Suomi: Laatikkot - different casserole 'boxes' of carrot, sweetened potato, turnip and liver
UK: Roast potatoes, parsnips & carrots
Suomi: Rosolli - beetroot and mixed vegetable salad, Lingonberry and cabbage salad, Mushroom salad
UK: Brussel sprouts
Suomi: Pate, meat aspic, smoked reindeer.
UK: Liver pate, pressed tongue, stilton
Suomi: Gingerbread cookies, Joulutorrtu.
UK: Mince pies, christmas pudding, trifle
And to drink: Glögi, wine, beer, milk, and coffee (of course - Finns start to get the shakes if they don't get coffee every few hours...)
UK: Wine, beer, fruit juice, mulled wine, coffee
Later:
2 burana and a lie down...
2 neurofen, the Queens Speech and a lie down...
Hyvää joulun ruokaa!
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