h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Munch

It's !

*Walks into the Tea Shoppe out of the falling snow*
Brrr - cold outside
Hello! What fruit and nut cakes do you serve? And do you have anything special for Christmas?

<BB<

Hi BB

try those Christmas cookies, their yummy!

*Nearly faints* Bluebottle!! Our village thatcher has arrived! I am so glad to see you. My cottage needs a re-thatch come spring. May I make an appointment?

We have the heaviest, darkest, spiked fruitcake you have ever sunk your teeth into. Would you like a slice? Tea?

*takes a cookie*
Thank you!
Hmm... Christman in Finland? Well as we say (and everyone should know) the Santa Claus lives in Finland. He has a workshop and settlements somewhere near lofty mountain called Korvatunturi. No one really knows for sure where he lives, but elves and gnomes are loyal to him. By the old Finnish tradition all houses have their home elf (not a sinda, noldo or something) which we called 'tonttu'. Every house has its own elf who looks what you are doing and if you're behaving good. In rural areas people usually have two elves, one in the main house and one in the sauna. Sauna elf is always special because you'll have to remember to leave water to sauna that elf could use it.
Elfs always raport to Santa Claus (joulupukki in Finnish) who is behaving nice and who is naughty. If you're behaving naughty the Santa usually gives you twigs.
Usually Christmas week is a hurry week. All people are going from place to place and it puts a real chaos to some places. 24th day is the Christmas Eve when family's share the presents and we eat the Christmas Meal which has its special importance on ham. After the feast people share the presents and after that everyone are free to do what they like. I usually get bed because I think I'll have to catch next day faster. Have to call my friends and get out of the house...
25th day is usually day when everyone meet their relatives. Same food always and same talk every year. Boxing Day is even more relative-day but this year we stay home. After few brandys my parents usually stay bit longer and I always have things to do.
27th day is very, so we can say that the Finland gets bit by reality. People start to wait New Year's Eve which is in same week.
To Finnish people Christmas is one of the family "events". Since we don't have the same importance towards family as like in Italy. If you move early from home it's ok. So this point the Christmas is like celebrating the family.
*takes a sip of tea*
Next week is busy. Because of Christmas and because I'm working in local supermarket. I and Alien are binding flowers half a week so we have hurry to get Christmas vacation. I bought gifts to my friends since I rarely buy something... Have this bad manner, and I always forget to send cards. Now I planned that it would be better if I send X-mas cards in Summer.
And I have to clean, a lot! My room is messy and whole house is messy. (I think it is all the time!) Parents usually clean everything and I have to bake at the same time.
Same things every year! Oh, almoust forget the X-mas tree. It is special thing which is to be bought (or stolen) every year. After decorating the tree the atmosphere is silent and beautiful which gives you the sensation of peace. We also have a tradition about this peace as they announce it in every year in television. X-mas peace starts at 12.00 on the 24th. It informs that all the can now peacefully start the holidays. (It derives it roots from old tradition but only few years I hadn't been announced: during the Second World War.)
So now we have 6 days to Christmas Eve and school ends at 22nd. I bought all the presents in advance so I should not have that kind of big hurry. *really hopes so* But there is still some thing which i miss: the snow. I don't remember any X-mas without the snow and this would be very sad. Well, but it is X-mas anyway, so I'm not going to spend my holidays worrying the situation in the sky. I just have to remember to buy lot of candles. That is always special in X-mas, we don't use electricity much. (Since I rarely use it in any time of a year, except I have to work on a computer...) Candles make the atmophere very nice.
*empties the cup*
Whoa, I have been talking and talking, I realize why my mother asked me to start a knitting society. Then I would talk all the day and do some serious work at the same time. Mother usually makes all the baking and decorating while father cleans up all the house. I usually escape the cleaning only cleaning which is mine. (That is my room.) My brother makes this escape thing more often and he is good at it. Next year I'm not sure if I get home on X-mas because I have to go to army for 6 months. Yes, in Finland we have to go there. I hate guns, army and everything like that so the 6 months will be very very very boring. Well but 'Carpe Diem!', enjoy the moments, I have to enjoy them now!
*finishes the cookie*
This text of mine reminds of an old saying... "No one ever enjoy reading this long article..." So these lines would be the most easy reading part.
It is funny that X-mas traditions differ a bit, how about in your countries?

*Takes a nice piece of mince pie*
In England, sadly it has all become very Americanised in recent years.
In the old days, people used to eat Goose, now it's Americanised Turkey.
In the old days we had Father Christmas - now it's the Americanised "Santa Claus".
In the old days people used to go Carol Singing - now they knock on your door, sing a few lines of "So here it is, Merry Christmas Everybody's Having Fun" and demand money.
In the old days it was Christmas, now it is "Xmas".
In the old days it used to be a time for families to get together - now it is a time when your parents decide to get divorced.
In the old days it used to be a Christian celebration - now it's just about merchandising.

Oh well - sorry for the cynic's view.

<BB<

Hey, BB, sorry to say, but you are right in many points, you mentioned . I'm happy to say, in my country there is still a huge Christmas tradition, though. You know, this kind like: the Christmas dinner has always 12 different dishes, we put one plate more for an unexpected visitor, also there is allways some hay under the table-cloth, the Christmas diner beginns when the first star is on the evening sky (about 6 pm, in my RL), we are not cooking anything more during this 3 days - only this, what we prepared for the dinner - well, with 12 different dishes, that's really not a problem .

Lord F - it was very interesting, how it is in Suomi. I like your name for Finnland more, it's sounds nice .

Lord Falk, that was the most beautiful thing I have ever read in a forum. I love the house elves!! Christmas sounds perfect where you live. You are very fortunate.

Bluebottle, you need a hug. Did we Americans do that to your Christmas? I'm sorry. We aren't all so crass, believe me. I always loved Christmas as a child, and when my children were growing up. I still love to give gifts to people. Homemade and heartfelt gifts are the best.

Thank you.
There is a house elf here somewhere but I have to locate it first.
Only the snow is missing, but I wait positive for it.
Finland is a quiet country with few people (5.1 million) so it's usually peaceful everywhere. Best thing is to go to forest for walk in winter. Since everything is so quiet you're begin to feel like all alone in there. Only the animals share the place but they are too shy talk with you. Another person always makes it even better since Christmas is always very warm time.

Oh my name? Hih, thanks, it just is what it is. There is no story behind it since I never remember where I got it. Hmm... This is more like a destiny... But I had always have it... Hmm... This is strange, I must celebrate it with new magenta tea. Could I have a magenta tea, please.

We just packed all the presents last night. I couldn't make it if there weren't my special person. I have to fill the last X-mas cards and then I'll be ready. I personally carry most of the presents today so I'll be seeing my friends all the day. Maybe I should color my beard as white so I would be looking more Santa?

*looks up to the sky waiting for something special*

I started off the Americanisation thing just intending to say about "Santa" and the turkey - but then after I typed that all my Christmas disappointments came out. I don't think America is soley to blame for any thing else other than the "Santa" and turkey - I didn't mean to say that it was - it just kinda came out wrong.

Hope you don't mind if I refuse wholeheartedly to call Father Christmas "Santa".

<BB<

And I would prefer call him Joulupukki if there wasn't this language barrier. And Christmas would be Joulu. It has been quite a work to learn to write that word. We practised it in grammar school because Christmas was so important thing.
We have had these commercial stuff a lot and some people care for it and some people don't. I don't, so I keep my Christmas rooted in traditions. Globalization runs on so after few hundred years we could be celebrating something worse...
*takes a sip of a tea*

Our diversity makes us enriched. It is wonderful that you all stay with the traditions that belong to your countries.

More magenta tea, Mi'Lord? Another slice of fruitcake, BB?

Oh, yes please.
You right, it is good that people have different kinds of traditions. This place would be very boring if all were the same.
Uh, the temperature is low... It's about -5... Now I'm really going to wait that snow.
*takes little cute elf radio from the robe*
*puts it on and listens Christmas songs*
Yep, it's almoust Christmas. Only four days to go.

We have had lovely snow here in Wisconsin. I was x country skiing yesterday, just opened my back door and swished off over our hayfield. Actually, it was tough going on the first go around as I was breaking trail. The second time I stayed in my own tracks and had good fun!

Winter sport? Hih, I only stay inside, light few candles and sit and write. Darkness and candles make very nice atmosphere around the rooms of the house. Heh, I only must a truce with my family first, they usually like electricity...

I'll have to side with your family on that one. I like electricity just fine. Would not want to live without it.

Yes, not all without it, but candles usually make the Christmas. Or then I'm a troll hiding in the apartment...
Hmm.. Maybe I should try to collect Christmas songs? What are your favorite?

You're definitely right about the candles, Lord F

And this is true not only for X-mas - there is nothing better for me than to relax after a day of stress IRL as to take a long bath with much of lather, candles, and some good classic music. Then I lean back, close my eyes and just relax... !

As for my favourite Christmas songs - 'Silent Night' is one of them among 2 or 3 typical Polish Christmas songs

Carol of the Bells, is my favorite.

Tonttu (elf) is my favorite. It's kind of sad christmas song, not so jolly... Strange, I hardly have any jolly songs...! I have to collect some more before I spend my Christmas full with tears...
And now all the work is finished! We were binding flowers at the local supermarket for few days and this was the last day. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and after that... A VACATION FOR 2 WEEKS!! Hooray!