Happy New Year

Happy New Year 1957  

Happy New Year 1967

Happy New Year 1977

Happy New Year 1987

Happy New Year 1997

Happy New Year 2007

Wishing you all a Happy New Year 2017!

This is my entry for "Postcards for the weekend 18: Time/Clock"

Christmas Day

Advent Calendar Day 24. Christmas Eve

Illustration Rudolf Koivu

In Finland, the most important Christmas celebration takes place on Christmas Eve. Finnish traditions include the Christmas sauna and the preparation of Christmas dinner. The highlight of the evening comes when Santa knocks on the door and asks, “Are there any well-behaved children here?” Naturally, every home contains only good children and they all receive presents.

Advent Calendar Day 23. - Christmas Porridge

Riisipuuro illustration Ingrid Elf

At Christmas time, even those who usually dislike porridges may still enjoy eating rice porridge. It can be served with a pat of butter, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar or with whipped cream served with fruit soup or sauce, typically made with prunes and raisins.  

We start out Christmas Eve celebration with rice pudding and fruit soup.  The kids love this, their favorite part is trying to find the almond hidden in the rice.  Whoever finds it gets good luck.

Illustration Inge Löök

Advent Calendar Day 22. - Christmas Sauna

Whose turn is it? by Virpi pekkala

 Sauna Hat by Virpi Pekkala

Barrel sauna by Kaarina Toivanen

Warming up the sauna on Christmas is an ancient custom in Finland. Most Finns have a tradition of going to sauna to bathe and relax before attending the Christmas Eve celebrations.

Advent Calendar Day 21. - Christmas Tree

Illustration Martta Wendelin

The Christmas tree is brought home on December 24 at the latest. A star is placed at the top of the tree and the branches are adorned with sweets, elves, stars and apples, the latter relating to Adam and Eve: In the Finnish calendar, Christmas Eve is the name day of both Adam and Eve. The rural gentry and wealthy townsfolk began to adopt Christmas trees in the 1820s. 

Illustration Carl Larsson 

Illustration Jenny Nyström

Illustration Rudolf Koivu

Advent Calendar Day 20..- Chritsmas Moose

Traditional Christmas symbol - moose.

Illustration Lennart Helje

Illustration Jenny Nyström

Illustration Charles Goulding

Illustration Eva Melhuish

Illustration my husband 😍

Advent Calendar Day 19. - Christmas Snowmen

Illustration  V. Barsukova

 Illustration Marjaliisa Pitkäranta

Enamel painting by Eve Hakkarainen

Advent Calendar day 18. - Fourth Sunday of Advent

Fetching the Christmas Tree

Illustration Rudolf Koivu, Finland

Illustration Maarit Ailio, Finland

Illustration  V. Barsukova, Russia

 Illustration Inge Löök, Finland

Advent Calendar Day 17. - Christmas Villages and houses

Charles Goulding's idyllic Christmas city, dream city for many Finns.

Typical very common model, called “veteran’s house”. They were very popular after WW2. The Finnish government had made ready drawings and they were free to use for anybody. Finland is full of this type, built from about 1945 to the beginning on 60s.

Illustration by Marja-Liisa Pitkäranta 

My dream house :)

Illusrtation Charles Goulding

 E.Axel Wolf's  glittering  city

 Marit Björnegran's blue  village

"Good Morning Dear Mary Roy" Illustration by Ivan Gantschev

Advent Calendar Day 16. - Christmas Transport

Christmas on wheels

 by Priit Rea

Christmas Express 

by Omppu Omenamäki

Christmas Environment Friendly Transport

by Charles Goulding

Christmas  on Tracks

by Pentti Pihlajaoja

Have a nice trip and stay safe on Christmas traffic!

Advent Calendar Day 15.- Christmas Homes

Charles A.Goulding's hHouse elf

Inge Löök's  Grannies

Inge Löök's house elf