This article tells of old finnish christmas traditions. Most of them are long-forgotten now.
This kind of traditions took place in... let's say... 1400-1800 AD. When old finnish middle-winter celebration was slowly turning into a jesus-christian-christmas. The word middle-winter-party (keskitalven juhla) had alreydy turned to christmas (joulu).

JOULU = CHRISTMAS. The old finnish 'Christmas' had no connections to christian religion. The party of middle winter was celebrated in middle of winter. When christianity came to Finland, middle winter celebration slowly turned to Jesus-Christmas.

JOULUPUKKI = FATHER CHRISTMAS. (Straighly translated to Christmas male goat). After Christmas men used to dress and mask themselves to animals, and then visit the nearby houses and scare and amuse the inhabitants. At least they helped inhabitants to get rid of their christmas drinks. Nowadays joulupukki means santa claus. He lives in korvatunturi (ear fell).

JOULUAASI = CHRISTMAS DONKEY. As joulupukki, but nowadays long-forgotten. Doesn't mean father cristmas.

JOULUKARHU = CHRISTMAS BEAR. As joulupukki, but nowadays long-forgotten. Doesn't mean father cristmas.

JOULUKURKI = CHRISTMAS CRANE. As joulupukki, but nowadays long-forgotten. Doesn't mean father cristmas.

JOULUJAARA = CHRISTMAS JAARA. As joulupukki, but nowadays long-forgotten. Doesn't mean father cristmas.

JOULUHIIRI = CHRISTMAS MOUSE. This was never seen, but everybody knew that it would pee to the linens if they weren't spinned to yarns already.

JUOLUKISSA = CHRISTMAS CAT. This was never seen, but everybody knew that it would pee to the linens if they weren't spinned to yarns already.

JOULUKOIRA = CHRISTMAS DOG. New clothes were made and bought in the Christmas. If someone did not have new clothes, Chrismas dog came and ate him or her. (At least everyone were told so, so that they would get themselves new clothes.)

JOULUKALA = CHRISTMAS FISH. Fish were eaten in Christmas.

JOULUMATIKKA = CHRISTMAS MADE. A christmas fish.

JOULUKARJU = CHRISTMAS BOAR. It was a 65-liter barrel full of strong alcohol. It was emptied during the Christmastime.

JOULULINTU = CHRISTMAS BIRD. Birds were eaten in Christmas. It could also mean a decoration, a piece of wood shaped to the form of a bird.

JOULUKÄKI = CHRISTMAS CUCKOO. A decoration, wooden cuckoo. Cuckoos weren't eaten. Christmas cuckoo is also a name of one christmas game.

JOULUPORSAS = CHRISMAS PIG. King of Chrismas, Christmas pig! It was feeded well during many months, and then it was eaten in christmas. many dishes were get from it. Chrismas pig is also a name of one christmas game.

JOULUPORSAS = CHRISMAS PIG. Another christmas pig. In the christmastime, when everyone was in hurry, and someone came to visit uninvited, he or she was taunted as a christmas pig.

JOULUSIKA = CHRISTMAS PIG. A taunting name, as above.

JOULUPOSSU = CHRISTMAS PIG. A taunting name, as above.

JOULUTYRÄ = CHRISTMAS HERNIA. A taunting name, as above.



JOULUKALTTI = CHRISTMAS KALTTI. A taunting name, as above.

JOULUKEKRI = CHRISTMAS KEKRI. A taunting name, as above.

Made by: OSKA

BFTH

Comments, please!