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Show Friday, December 15, 1989 The Summit County Bee 7C Christmas Eve Traditions From the Land Where Santa Claus Really Lives the Arctic Circle, amidst Aliove rolling white hills snowy dotted with dark green fir trees, lies Finland's home to Iapland" 200,000 I Laplanders, 200,000 reindeer and Santa Claus. The long dark evenings of northern Finland are ierfect for making toys, and Santa himself is headquartered in Kovaniemi, capital of Lapland. Each year, thousands of children from countries all over the world not just Finland get replies from the Christmas letters they send to: Santa Claus, Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi, Finland." Its no surprise, then, that the Christmas season is a very special time in Finland marked not only by special foods, decorations and but by some uniquely Finnish holiday customs. The Finnish tradition of beginning the holiday season with food, drink and is a long one. Christmas Eve Day is big ana festive in Finland. The official signal for the start of Christinas takes place midday on December 24th, when a Christmas Proclamation of FinPeace is given from Turku land's oldest town. Finns then proceed to the cemeteries, where evergreen wreaths and candles are placed on loved ones' graves. Friends and family rather together to decorate the Christmas tree. Today, many Finns still use lighted candles on their Christmas trees (with a pail of water nearby) and candles are both a traditional Christmas gift and a key holiday decorating element in Finnish homes. Their love of candles stems from the fact that there's hardly any natural light or warmth from the sun during Finnish winter. Christmas Eve dinner is festive and ample, and the Finns traditionally toast the holiday with Finnish mixture of a Glogg red wine, madeira, almonds and the Finlandia Vodka. country's pride To accompany Finnish Glogg, the Finns serve Piparkakut (ginger0, gift-givin- rs spice-redole- nt bread cookies), Pulla Christmas Bread, Christmas Cake and other tasty holiday specialties. like all nationalities Following Christmas Eve festivities, the Finns around the world settle down to await the arrival of Joulu" (Christmas), and of course, Santa Claus. FINNISH CHRISTMAS GLOGG Jouluglogi 2 - 3 tablespoons Madeira bottle inexpensive red wine cup raw sugar, or to taste cup raisins 2 sticks cinnamon 5 - 6 whole cloves A cup blanched, slivered (4 cup Finlandia Vodka almonds In a large kettle, combine all the ingredients except the vodka. Heat slowly, until the drink is steaming hot. Stir every now and then, and taste with a spoon whenever you feel like it. Do not let the drink get close to Servings: I to 6. boiling. Just keep it warm. Before serving, add vodka. 1 Vt 1 Vfc -- Sincere Best Wishes from "All the Family" At BLAZZARD LUMBER & OIL CO. 539 N. Hwy.189 783-455- 0 01 Have a Green Christmas! f: We're just blooming with w good holiday wishes for you and yours, along with our thanks for your valued business. , I Aokis Chalk Creek Gardens SI HI Now taking orders for the holidays ts , . . A Chalk Creek Road, Coalville 336-210- 5 ? |