{"id":2617,"date":"2013-12-15T16:56:21","date_gmt":"2013-12-15T16:56:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/?p=2617"},"modified":"2022-01-10T21:41:52","modified_gmt":"2022-01-10T21:41:52","slug":"finland-christmas-time-in-helsinki","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/finland-christmas-time-in-helsinki\/","title":{"rendered":"<img src=\"\/images\/flags\/Finland.gif\"> Finland &#8211; Christmas Time in Helsinki"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-279x7t-c8ac037b24ab8ed730518377591661d3\">\n#top .avia-gallery.av-279x7t-c8ac037b24ab8ed730518377591661d3 .avia-gallery-thumb a{\nwidth:14.2857%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-gallery av-279x7t-c8ac037b24ab8ed730518377591661d3 avia_animate_when_visible  avia-builder-el-0  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  deactivate_avia_lazyload avia-gallery-animate avia-gallery-1'  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class='avia-gallery-thumb'> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki4.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki4.jpg 547w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki4-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki4-528x705.jpg 528w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki4-450x600.jpg 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 547px) 100vw, 547px\" data-rel='gallery-1' data-prev-img='https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki4-495x400.jpg' class='first_thumb lightbox ' data-onclick='1' title='Travel-Helsinki4'  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  ><img class=\"wp-image-2620 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-2620\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki4-180x180.jpg\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\"  title='Travel-Helsinki4' alt='' srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki4-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki4-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki4-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki4-120x120.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki4-450x450.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki.jpg 618w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki-300x131.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki-450x197.jpg 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\" data-rel='gallery-1' data-prev-img='https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki-495x271.jpg' class='lightbox ' data-onclick='2' title='Travel-Helsinki'  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  ><img class=\"wp-image-2621 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-2621\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki-180x180.jpg\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\"  title='Travel-Helsinki' alt='' srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki1.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki1.jpg 589w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki1-219x300.jpg 219w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki1-515x705.jpg 515w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki1-450x615.jpg 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 589px) 100vw, 589px\" data-rel='gallery-1' data-prev-img='https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki1-495x400.jpg' class='lightbox ' data-onclick='3' title='Travel-Helsinki1'  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  ><img class=\"wp-image-2622 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-2622\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki1-180x180.jpg\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\"  title='Travel-Helsinki1' alt='' srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki1-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki1-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki1-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki1-120x120.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki1-450x450.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki3.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki3.jpg 547w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki3-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki3-528x705.jpg 528w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki3-450x600.jpg 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 547px) 100vw, 547px\" data-rel='gallery-1' data-prev-img='https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki3-495x400.jpg' class='lightbox ' data-onclick='4' title='Travel-Helsinki3'  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  ><img class=\"wp-image-2623 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-2623\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki3-180x180.jpg\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\"  title='Travel-Helsinki3' alt='' srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki3-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki3-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki3-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki3-120x120.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki3-450x450.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki2.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki2.jpg 547w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki2-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki2-528x705.jpg 528w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki2-450x600.jpg 450w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 547px) 100vw, 547px\" data-rel='gallery-1' data-prev-img='https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki2-495x400.jpg' class='lightbox ' data-onclick='5' title='Travel-Helsinki2'  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  ><img class=\"wp-image-2624 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-2624\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki2-180x180.jpg\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\"  title='Travel-Helsinki2' alt='' srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki2-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki2-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki2-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki2-120x120.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-content\/uploads\/travel\/2013\/12\/Travel-Helsinki2-450x450.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<p><em>Mom, editor, writer, journalist, Realtor. Heli has lived in London, Dallas, Helsinki and Austin. She recently returned to Helsinki after several years in Austin, TX. She has a MA in comparative literature, and she has been working as an editorial manager in several publishing houses in Helsinki in the past.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>In December the Christmas season really gets into full swing around Helsinki. The main shopping street of Helsinki, Aleksanterinkatu, will be decorated by the traditional Christmas lights going back to 1946, and the turning on the lights event is the official opening of the Christmas season in the city. The Christmas window display of Stockmann\u00b4s department store is \u201cthe thing\u201d to see by children\u2026 and adults.<\/p>\n<p>The Independence Day of Finland is the 6th of December. Finns light two candles in each window of their home in the evening to mark this important day. A legend has it that two candles were used as a sign to inform young Finnish men that the house was ready to offer shelter and keep them hidden from the Russians, when they were traveling to Sweden and Germany to become j\u00e4gers. \u201cA j\u00e4ger\u201d means elite light infantry, scouts and sharpshooters. Other popular tradition is to enjoy the broadcasting of presidential ball on the night of Dec 6th on the national television.<\/p>\n<p>December is the time for numerous Christmas markets all over Finland, and Helsinki is famous for it\u00b4s St. Thomas Market, which takes place at the beautiful Senate Square. With over 120 booths the vendors are selling everything from handicrafts to gingerbread houses, canned food and delicious breads.<\/p>\n<p>The length of the day in Helsinki during mid December is barely 6 hours. Finns are counting the days until the winter solstice on December 21st, when the daylight starts getting longer again. But before that, everyone is waiting the highlight of the year, the Christmas Eve!<\/p>\n<p>To be precise here are the stats for Sunday, Dec 15 2013<\/p>\n<p>Aurinko nousee \/ Sunrise: 9:19 am<br \/>\nAurinko laskee \/ Sunset: 15:12\/3.12 pm<br \/>\nP\u00e4iv\u00e4n pituus \/The length of the day: 5 hours 52 minutes<\/p>\n<p>All photos by Heli Bergius.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mom, editor, writer, journalist, Realtor. Heli has lived in London, Dallas, Helsinki and Austin. She recently returned to Helsinki after several years in Austin, TX. She has a MA in comparative literature, and she has been working as an editorial manager in several publishing houses in Helsinki in the past. In December the Christmas season [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2621,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2617"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29889,"href":"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617\/revisions\/29889"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2621"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2617"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2617"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eurocircle.com\/euro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2617"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}