*Onnellista Uutta Vuotta! * *Среќна Нова Година! * * Gott Nytt År! *

The year 2012 has come to its end. You survived the end of the world! The world ceased to exist, but life thrived on. The Senate square has been up and running these days, preparing for the spectacle that will round up  the year 2012. The stage has been slowly rising up from the snow. A great show is about to come tonight.

NYE preparations at Senaatintori.
© Helsinki City Tourist Information

The NYE celebration in the Senate square is a tradition alive from the  ’30’s. The celebration will take place at the Senate square today at 10:15 pm.  New Year’s eve will be started by a circus performance. And of course, a manifestation like this cannot be true to its self if the mayor, Jussi Pajunen takes a stance. The stars of the night will be Michael Monroe, Osmo Ikonen among others.

Apart from participating on the event, you can follow the live broadcast at YLE TV1, or just follow it via the internet. The broadcast will be available worldwide, so you can watch it wherever you’re at! When it comes to transportation, extra buses will run during the night, and the metro will run two extra hours, that  it will continue running after 11pm.

It is advisable to use public transportation today, since there will be a huge traffic jam.In 2012, I got Finland. It’s been a blessed year for me.  Finland gave me everything I have ever wanted. My New Year’s resolutions? Love, health  and a room full of Lonkero, Karpalo and pullas.

May 2013 grand you peace, happiness and an opportunity to visit this amazing country  in the North.

Nähdään 2013!

How to chat up a Finnish girl!

During my stay in Finland, I browsed bookshelves in Suomalainen Kirjakauppa, among others and discovered a rad book called “HOW TO MARRY A FINNISH GIRL”. Many volunteers told me about it, but  I though it was rather cheezy. At one point I just bought it. Boy, it was a blast!

How to Marry a Finnish Girl – Phil Schwazmann

Once you get your hands on it, you will understand. Such an entertaining read! PS: DO NOT GIVE THIS BOOK TO A FINN!  😀

‘Cause it is the Finland you don’t know about. And this guy, Phil, an American, won’t sugar coat things in the book. Very amusing, at times over-exaggerated if you ask me. 🙂 Very informative, you will get an insight from a foreigner’s perspective.

I was planning to do a recension on here, but then I don’t want to spoil the fun for you. 🙂

Back on track, in one part of the book there is a chapter called  “How to chat up a Finnish girl”,  and it includes many catch phrases which can aid you in finding a Finnish girl.

Use it at your own peril 😀  You will either  get a kiss on the cheek, or a shovel in your face. LOL

Here it goes:

Could I have your autograph, Miss Finland?

Put your tongue on my flagpole and see if it sticks.

Was that a mosquito that just bit me, or was it love?

When I first saw you, I was like a reindeer in headlights.

Let’s go mushroom picking together, because I am a fun-gi.

What’s your name? I’ll write it in the snow with my yellow pen.

Does Finnair have a direct flight from Helsinki to your heart?

Kiss me now, we only have ten minutes to live. The Russians are invading.

Will you marry me? Or am I just ski – jumping to conclusions?

You’re hot like sauna.

You’re like Koskenkorva, everyone likes a shot.  ( fave #1)

You’re like Lapin Kulta, I want to crack you open.

Your like Karjala, I want to pop off your top.

Let’s go ice – fishing. I’ll put my rod in your hole.

How about I go sledding in your bedding.

Everyman’s right, your bush is a great place  to pop a tent.

Everyman’s right, I’m gonna deflower your forest.

Do you hunt moose? Cause I hunt beaver.

Like the midnight sun,I’ll never leave you.

We’re like mustamakkara, we’re linked together.

Like mämmi, I’m gonna cover you in cream, sugar.

You’re like a snowflake, you’re different than the rest.

You make my balls like the Finnish flag, white and blue. (fave #2)

Do you like ski? Have you been down my happy trail?

No, you’re not a Nokia Communicator in my pocket.

You can make snow angels while standing up.

Do you prefer Finnish Spitz or Finnish Swallows?

Joulupukki sent me a letter…

Strong gusts of wind crawl against the entrails of the city of Helsinki. Suurikirkko peeks through the snow, awaiting for the sun that hasn’t laid arms on the pearl of the North for months.

Against all odds, life continues here. It’s a marvel how human beings adapted to such a harsh environment. You start thinking either you hate snow or  the snow hates you. 😀 There is no other option.After a typical Finnish weekend, you can’t feel your bones 😀 Your body runs on Karhu, you extinguish your dreadful hangover by just having another round of less stronger alcohol. Olvi perhaps?

Or just do lumityö ( snow work) half- naked while it  snows like there is not tomorrow. If that doesn’t cure your hangover, than I have nothing else to say to you. 😀 You fight your way through the snow, and there is a small envelope waiting in your postilaatikko ( mailbox). Who could have thought of me in this time of year?!

Then I just open the letter, and on top of it I see the seal of Santa Claus’s main post office in Rovaniemi, Article Circle, Lapland.Some of us never grew up. Deep inside I am still a child! My reaction was: “SANTA WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN MY WHOLE LIFE YOU FAT F***!” Just kidding 😉

It warmed my heart up , despite of the harsh winter ravaging outside.

Joulupukki’s letter

Santa IS from Finland. Every Finn will tell you that! You better know it. 😛 It’s a well know fact.

My letter came from Joulupukki’s dwelling, Korvatunturi (Ear Mountain), Lapland that is.  The letter contained Santa’s letter and a calendar for the incoming year of 2013. It only means  one thing, someone dear to me, sent me this letter. I still do not know who it was!

Here is an excerpt from the letter:

” As I look through the window I can see the fluttering of snowflakes. The deep blue light of the darkening afternoon colours the landscape in Christmas shades. I have been reading the delightful letters the children of the world have sent me, while munching on some freshly baked gingerbread biscuits. Now what I really feel is sending you a letter and giving you my Christmas greetings…”

Want to surprise your friend for Christmas with a letter coming directly from Santa himself? Do not grief no more, because posti.fi offers the option for you to sent a letter from Santa anywhere in the world, for 7 euros only!

Enlighten someone’s day!

PS: Check your mailbox 😉

 

 

Hyvää itsenäisyyspäivää, Suomi!| Happy Independence Day, Finland!| Среќен ден на независноста, Финска!

95 years ago Finland claimed her independence.  It’s a fact that every Finn holds dear, since it’s recent history. The veterans who fought for Finland are alive to this day.

You should think that this day should be full of fireworks, barbecues and celebration. Not really 🙂  It’s not like 4 of july, most definitely.

Google Doodle commemorates Finland’s Indepedence.

What Finnish families do on this day is watch TV. Might sound boring to you, but to Finns this is very traditional and important. To be more precise, Finns watch the Presidental Independence Day reception at the Presidental Palace ( Presidentinlinna)on the national television broadcast of Finland, YLE. It’s a big reception that occurs every year in the 6 of December. Loads of celebrities and socialites attend this reception.

Presidentinlinna

You know what that means… gossip 😛  Finns talk and chit chat about the people that are attending the reception. ” My God, that vitun huora again!” 🙂

In the reception, Finland’s president, Sauli Niinistö gives a speech.  And I think that’s about it. 😀 Finns are a proud nation.This day is a reminder of everything they fought for. Finland didn’t used to be the welfare state that everyone knows nowadays.Finland stands proud in the tip of the North, like the maiden that she is!

HYVÄÄ ITSENÄISYYSPÄIVÄÄ,SUOMI!!!!

Pikkujoulut season

You went bar hopping in Kallio( THE ROCK!) had some cheep booze, had a blast, fell asleep on the bus, ended up somewhere else! You made a promise to yourself to calm down next weekend.

But then, you realized that your working place is throwing a Pikkujoulu.  What could that be?! It is the high season of Pikkujoulut. Do you think what I’m thinking? FREE BOOZE.  Oh no wait… 😐

Pikkujoulu ( Small Christmas ) is an event that every Finnish family/company [ insert other..] organizes some time before Christmas. It’s the Christmas before Christmas 😛  Close friends gather  around during Pikkujoulu and converse over a nice warm cup of glöggi(mulled wine) and loads of piparkakku(gingerbread cake).

piparkakku and glöggi

Glöggi can be found in every market, in tetra-packs or bottled. It can be alcoholic or non  – alcoholic. It depends on the way you prepare it. Basically it is made from red wine and spices. Boil it up and add whatever comes to your mind. People usually add  almonds or nuts.  Glöggi is really warm and perfect for long winter nights. It just gives you the feeling of coziness while you observe the snow outside.

Apart from glöggi, the piparkakku is another treat for the Pikkujoulu table. Piparkakku is gingerbread dough, which is formed very thin with a bread roll. After that you use all sorts of molds to form the dough. In our case a star (see picture above).

You might  have asumed by now that Pikkujoulu is just another excuse to get wasted and drink all that booze that you bought from Estonia. 😀  nomnomnom

After your own Pikkujoulut, there is a friend that throws a Pikkujoulu, then the neighbor, then your acquaintance. Oh no… 

For just once you thought that you will be sober for the next 24 hours.

Joulukuu ( December ) came. Time to count the days until Christmas! If you are in Finland during this month, every Finn will tell you:

“You need your own Joulukalenteri!”

Joulukalenteri

 

Joulukalenteri is a calendar that counts the days until Christmas. All you have to do is take out the number of the day from the calendar and find the cute figure in it. Finns absolutely love this. It is considered to be very special. Every member of the family has one.

Enough of my babbling, your friend’s Pikkujoulu is awaiting. Make haste and go for it! You won’t regret it.