That old saying!!

You learn something new everyday..... is an understatement. I've learned something new every single day that I've been here in this part of the world. Europe, I must say is a very interesting place to live. I've really enjoyed the time we've been here so far and I believe that the rest of these three years will be absolutely wonderful & we'll still be learning every single day. 
The new thing that Troy & I both learned was that the Finns don't celebrate Christmas quite exactly like we do, but I wasn't expecting them too, just thought I mean, assumed that everything went the same way when it came to a Christmas tree but I was wrong. This past weekend, they just started selling the Christmas trees out at the markets. The week of Christmas?! Really?? That seemed very strange to us but everyone in this entire world has there own traditions and way of celebrating every holiday that they have, so no judging here, just very confused. Troy & I took the time to research & really learn about the country that we are living in and their way of celebrating Christmas. I wanted to blog about this because I find it very interesting enough to share. Please read the information I found below, it's really good.

Finland at Christmas time:

Spruce trees are cut or bought from a market and taken to homes on or a few days before Christmas Eve and are decorated. Candles are lit on the Christmas tree, which is traditionally decorated using apples and other fruit, candies, paper flags, cotton and tinsel. Actual candles are no longer used, being replaced by incandescent lamps. A star symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem is placed at the top of the tree. Just before the Christmas festivities begin, people usually take a Christmas sauna. The tradition is very old; unlike on normal days, when one would go to the sauna in the evening, on Christmas Eve it is done before sunset. This tradition is based on a pre-20th century belief that the spirits of the dead return and have a sauna at the usual sauna hours.

Afterwards, they dress up in clean clothes for the Christmas dinner or joulupoyta, which is usually served between 5pm and 7pm, or traditionally with the appearance of the first star in the sky. The most traditional dish of the Finnish Christmas dinner is probably Christmas ham, roast suckling pig or a roasted fresh ham, but some may prefer alternatives like turkey. Many kinds of casseroles are also popular. Other traditional Christmas dishes include boiled codfish (soaked beforehand in a lye solution for a week to soften it) served snowy white and fluffy, pickled herring and vegetables. Prune jam pastries, plum or mixed fruit soup, rice porridge with cinnamon, sugar and cold milk, and sweets like chocolate are popular desserts. Christmas gifts are usually exchanged after Christmas Eve dinner. Children do not hang up stockings in Finland but Joulupukki (Finnish Christmas figure)(literally means Christmas Goat or Yule Goat) visits the household, maybe with a tonttu to help him distribute the presents. An old Scandinavian tradition that over time the figure became more or less merged with Santa Claus.

The things I learn. I've loved learning so far, so maybe all who read my blog can also learn with me. It's been lots of fun.