Finnish Santa Claus - Yolopukki - was once an unsympathetic and even evil character. They scared naughty children, it was believed that he was stealing babies. In the view of modern Finns, Yolopukki no longer differs in appearance from the Western Santa Claus, and children write letters to him and ask him to send gifts. The European correspondent Sergei Pankratov tells how this miraculous transformation of a folklore character took place.

Finnish children are the happiest children in the world, because not only Santa Claus gives them Christmas gifts, but also Joulupukki. Santa Claus is a famous Christmas character. But with Joulupukki, the situation is more complicated. Its history goes into the Finnish folk epic.

At that time, when the Finns were still composing their epic, Joulupukki walked in a goat's skin. And sometimes even with small horns. Hence its name: yule is an old pagan holiday dedicated to winter, and puk is a goat. Children were often frightened by this not very nice character, and he took the most naughty ones with him.

Over time, Joulupukki ennobled. That is, he acquired human features and turned from a malevolent goat into a kind grandfather who distributes gifts to children at Christmas.

In 1928, resourceful Finnish journalists settled Joulupukki on the Korvantunturu mountain in Lapland. So he would have lived there quietly, if even more resourceful Finnish businessmen forty years later had not hooked Santa Claus on the same mountain. Finnish businessmen can be understood. By promoting the world-famous brand of Santa Claus, they will earn much more than on the unknown Joulupukki, except for the Finns. So Santa Claus and the Finnish Santa Claus began to coexist together on the same mountain.

Over time, as befits the natives from the east, Joulupukki began to look more and more like a stranger from the west. And today, purely outwardly, it is already difficult to distinguish where Joulupukki is and where Santa Claus is. Although, specialists in Santa Claus studies believe that there are differences, and significant ones. For example, Santa Claus lives as a hermit in a small hut and is a hardened bachelor, while Joulupukki is married. His wife's name is Muori and she represents winter. It is clear that where there is a woman, there should be a house and a household, and gnomes in the household.

Despite these significant differences, these two fairy-tale characters have the same task - to give gifts to children on Christmas Eve. At the request of their parents before the New Year, Finnish children can receive gifts from both Joulupukki and Santa Claus. And in especially child-loving families, children can receive gifts from two fairy-tale characters at once.

By the way, this children's fairy tale has a completely adult continuation. The fact is that Christmas in Finland is a grand, family holiday. Usually he, she, his parents, her parents, plus children gather at the table. In general, do not roam. So the Finns came up with an adult holiday - the meeting of Joulupukki, which they usually begin to celebrate at work on the eve of Christmas. In fact, this holiday resembles our corporate parties. That is, the scope of fun is limited only by the imagination of the participants themselves and the level of democracy of the company's management.

Special : photo memories and New. Explanatory. Dictionary-2013, as well as fresh New Year's stories!

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28.12.2016

Christmas in Finland is the most important holiday, which begins to be celebrated four weeks before December 25, with various entertainment events, fairs, concerts, religious ceremonies, and more. This holiday existed in the country even before the adoption of Christianity, and subsequently changed to include more church traditions. Pagan rites, for example, the walking of mummers from house to house, also survived. Even the Finnish Santa Claus Joulupukki is the oldest character who acquired a modern human appearance only in the 19th century, and the name remained the same and means “Christmas goat”.

The history of the appearance of Joulupukka

The holiday of winter (winter solstice) Yule was celebrated in all countries of Northern Europe, which was inhabited by ancient Germanic tribes until about the 7th century. The Finns had a tradition - to put on fur coats and straw masks with horns, depicting goats ("pukki"), and walk around the farms: first - singing songs and collecting treats, then - with gifts for children.

And so the Finnish “Santa Claus” appeared - the “Christmas goat” Joulupukki. Until the 19th century, he still wore a fur coat and horns turned inside out, and then he changed clothes according to the European standard - in a red caftan with a belt, a cap and boots, grew a long beard and put on fashionable glasses.

The residence of Joulupukki in Lapland

Santa Claus has his own residence in Finland. It is located in Lapland, not far from the border with Russia. There, on Mount Korvatunturi, the top of which resembles hare ears, stands the house of the chief winter wizard. Joulupukki lives there with his wife Muori and a team of gnome helpers. They not only help answer children's letters and wrap gifts, but also keep track of who behaves throughout the year. To do this, the gnomes make their way through the underground labyrinths into the mysterious "echo caves", and intensively eavesdrop from there.

Joulupukki does not invite guests to this house, but he will be happy to meet them in his office - the fabulous village of Joulukka near the city of Rovaniemi. Another place to visit is the magical Santa Park organized by the elves in the Arctic Circle, where the Finnish Santa Claus also frequents. Muori's wife often accompanies her husband on trips. She does housework, bakes delicious gingerbread, cooks porridge and spiced wine, and has her own Gingerbread Kitchen in Santa Park.

Reindeer Rudolph - assistant to Joulupukki

Reindeer Rudolph is Joulupukki's main assistant in delivering gifts around the world. But 7 more deer fly in a team with him, which he, as a senior, managed to teach his skills. Father Frost's Christmas route from Finland starts from the city of Turku, where at noon on December 24, near the town hall, he proclaims the beginning of the holiday. And then he has a whole 31 hours (not 24, due to the difference in time zones) to fly around all the kids on the planet.

Finnish "Santa Claus" Joulupukki does not hide from children and does not climb into the chimney at night. He just knocks on the door and distributes gifts personally - as was customary in ancient times.

Meeting directly the New Year in Finland is celebrated much more modestly than Christmas. Although, the night of January 1 is the only time when everyone is allowed to launch fireworks.

Santa Claus knows

The song called "Santa Claus knows it" (Pukki tietää sen). Performed by her band Rajaton (Without borders). Indeed, in the image of musical instruments with their voices, they have no boundaries.
And from the lyrics of the song you will learn a lot of interesting things: for example, how gnomes are born and why they do not have a navel. Interesting? Here are the lyrics in Finnish and Russian.

Taas revontulet laulaa hiljaa lauluaan,
Again the northern lights sing softly their song,
ja lumi peittää alleen joulupukinmaan.
And the snow covers the country of Santa Claus.
Ei korvatunturilla nuku yksikaän,
On the hill (where Santa Claus lives) no one sleeps,
Tontut ovat työssä, pukki pakkaa rekeään
Gnomes at work, Santa Claus is preparing a sleigh.
refrain:
On jouluyö, hän liitää halki taivaan poroillaan
Christmas night, he (Santa Claus) cuts the sky with his reindeer
On jouluyö ja kohta joka oveen kolkuttaa
Christmas night, will soon be knocking on every door
hän tuntee kaikki toiveet pienten suurten sydänten
He knows all the wishes of small and big hearts
ja joulun salaisuuden, Pukki tietää sen!
And the secret of Christmas, Santa Claus knows it!
Voit ihmetella kuinka pukki oikein selviää
You might wonder how Santa Claus is doing.
Kirjeet, sähköpostit, ei kukaan unhoon jää
Letters, email, no one will be forgotten
Suuri joulukirja taas kohta aukaistaan
The big Christmas book will be open again soon
milla toivoo molla Maijaa ja Tero formulaa
What Maya and Thero doll want.
refrain
Hei! Miksei tontuilla oo napaa?
Hey! Why don't gnomes have navels?
Pukki tietää, Pukki tietää!

Tontut syntyy tällä tapaa:
Gnomes are born this way:
Pukki tietää, Pukki tietää!
Santa Claus knows, Santa Claus knows!
Kuusenkerkut pataan vaan! Muori laittaa kiehumaan
Spruce needles - in a cast iron! The old woman puts it to boil.
Pata kuplii, porisee, tontut padast hyppelee!!
The iron boils and gurgles, the gnomes jump out of the iron!!
(pukki tietää, pukki tietää)
Pukki tietaä!
Santa Claus knows, Santa Claus knows, Santa Claus knows!
Ken uskoo joulun taikaan se sille avautuu
Who believes in the mystery of Christmas and opens up to it
ja sydämmessään silloin joulun ihme tapahtuu
The miracle of Christmas then takes place in his heart.

Finnish Santa Claus Joulupukki answers children's letters.

Rovaniemi - the Lapland residence of Joulupukki

Youlu means Christmas and pukki means goat. Many years ago, the Finnish Santa Claus wore a goat skin, and delivered gifts on a goat .. Now on deer! In translation, the name does not sound too pretty - the Christmas goat. The Finnish Santa Claus got such a strange nickname thanks to the villagers who put on a goat coat on Christmas night and carried gifts home. They say that it was these impostors who frightened off Santa. He no longer walks the streets on Christmas Eve, but sits in his winter residence in Rovaniemi and welcomes everyone.

Joulupukki's catchphrase:

Onkos täällä kiltteja lapsia?

Are there obedient children here?

His sleigh is flying. His reindeer talk, his bag is always full of gifts. He is known all over the world and in each country they call him differently: Per Noel, Yulbokk, Futter Christmas, Santa Claus ... But in his homeland, in Finland, he is better known as Joulupukki.

Where do gnomes come from

In Rovaniemi, Joulupukki lives with his old woman, Muori. Yes, yes, the Finnish Santa Claus is married, but he does not like to talk about his wife. Joulupukki and Muori's house is full of dwarves who help with the housework and, most importantly, wrap presents. Where do gnomes come from? From fir cones. The old woman collects cones in the forest, puts them in a large cauldron at night and wraps them in a warm blanket. By morning the gnomes are ready.

Works-Eva Melhuish

The owner of Rovaniemi sits in a small wooden house dotted with light bulbs. It is difficult to understand if Santa Claus smiles when little fans approach him ... Due to the abundant beard and mustache, his face is almost invisible. Only eyes, very wise and kind, look at visitors through glasses. "Are you good children?" - with these words Santa meets little guests. We immediately warn you - it is useless to lie. You can't fool Santa. He knows everything. The huge books that line the high shelves in Santa's office can tell a lot about every child on the planet. Where he lives, whether he behaves well, what his desires are.

These Talmuds are filled with Santa's little helpers - gnomes. But Santa Claus receives information thanks to additional ears. Everyone knows that in the summer Joulupukki lives on Mount Korvatunturi. This mountain has three ears. They catch the slightest changes in the life of any child. And they are the first to tell Santa who stopped believing in the Christmas miracle. It is said that at these moments, starry rain falls over Korvatunturi, and the page with the story of the grown-up child turns white. The gnomes do not write anything on it, since Santa is convinced that someday adults will come to their senses and believe in him. Then forgotten names and surnames will reappear on blank pages.

The gnomes also help Santa deal with the letters. More than 600,000 letters arrive in Rovaniemi every year. And to re-read them all alone is beyond the power, even Santa Claus.

At the main Christmas post office, smoke is like a yoke. Little gnomes fill out forms, put stamps on envelopes, discuss some Christmas business. The chief assistant of Santa is in charge of all this artel. Her official title is "Chief Postal Gnome". Her duties include marking on the board how many letters have arrived, so that God forbid which one is not lost. The Chief Postal Gnome knows best what letters Santa likes the most. After talking with the Chief Gnome, we learned some golden rules in writing letters for Santa Claus. First, don't ask too much. Second, tell us more about yourself. And thirdly, Santa also loves gifts. A large glass cube is filled with nipples. These are gifts for Santa Claus. The value of an ordinary nipple lies in the fact that it is with this item that each of us began life. Santa himself does not use nipples, he gives them to little gnomes, with the condition that later the nipples will return to their place.

All the fuss at the post office, and in the village itself, stops at Christmas midnight. As darkness descends over Lapland and nothing but the stars are visible, the quiet ringing of Christmas bells sweeps through the village. This is a signal for Santa. It's time to go on a trip around the world. To have time to deliver gifts to everyone who managed to order them before morning. In writing, in words or just in dreams.

In this article we will tell you about the Finnish Santa Claus. There are no barriers for him, at any moment he can sit on a sleigh and fly to any corner of the earth. His deer can talk, and on Christmas holidays they sing. His bag never empties and he has surprises in store for everyone, kids and adults alike. In different countries, this wizard is called differently, and in his homeland, in distant Lapland, his name is Joulupukki. Translated from Finnish, it sounds like "Christmas goat". I must say that this nickname, the Finnish Santa Claus got it many centuries ago from the villagers.

In those distant times, there was one rural custom, when local men went home for Christmas and handed out gifts. To do this, they put on goat coats, which is why they got such a strange nickname. Over time, everyone got used to the fact that Santa Claus carries gifts for Christmas and New Year, but this nickname has remained. They say that he was offended by people for this, so most of the time he sits in his residence, and his assistants deliver gifts. True, on the eve of the holiday, he manages to appear in every city in the country with his Christmas greeting.

The Finnish Santa Claus lives in northern Finland, not far from the city of Rovaniemi, a thousand kilometers from Helsinki. His village is located on the slope of the Korvatunturi mountain. The house is decorated with multi-colored light bulbs, and everything inside is very cozy and truly fabulous. For Finnish children, the holiday begins in advance - with the beginning of the pre-holiday fast. Adults buy them special Christmas calendars and they open one window every day and this continues until Christmas Eve. A funny picture, sweetness or even a small toy is waiting for the baby outside the window.

Finnish Santa Claus has his own large reindeer farm and the most important and favorite deer of the children, whose name is Rudolf. But it should be noted that besides him there are other strong deer. But none of them have such a glowing nose as Rudolph's, and this is very important when they set off on a journey. So the presence of this particular deer is always mandatory. They are born very tiny, about 5 kilograms, and this wonderful event usually takes place at the end of spring.

These animals grow rapidly, quickly gaining weight in order to get stronger by winter and not freeze when the temperature drops to a very low value. By the way, what is very surprising is that the winter in Lapland is much milder than in the south of the country. There, due to the proximity of the sea, the climate is more humid and therefore less comfortable. For tourists visiting this region, one of the most fun activities.

How does Joulupukki guess wishes?

Joulupukki has such a big beard that it's hard to tell if he's smiling or not. Yes, only his kind and cheerful disposition is always betrayed by his eyes. I must say that they are smart and wise. “Are you a good child?” Finnish Santa Claus asks his little visitors. You can’t lie, Santa has a huge library, where there are books about all the children on earth. Joulupukki will open one of them and find out whether he is being told the truth or deceived. But not only about behavior is said in them.

Photo: www.visitrovaniemi.fi

They contain all the secret desires of all children. How did the Finnish Santa Claus know about them? It is said that Mount Korvatunturi has three ears. Any desires and changes in the life of the child they catch and pass on to Grandfather. If suddenly the baby stops believing in a miracle, this is an extremely unpleasant case. The gnomes are trying their best to prepare the most amazing gift for this child. But if this does not help, then the name of this boy or girl is automatically erased from the book, and this means that they have become adults.

Gnomes help keep notes, parse letters, and wrap gifts. It should be noted that almost a million pieces of letters come to the Main Post Office every year. Even such a wizard as the Finnish Santa Claus is simply not able to re-read them all. Manages the mail - the main postal gnome. His main duty is to see that not a single letter is lost. All pre-holiday fuss in the residence ends exactly at Christmas midnight. Deep night falls on the earth, and only the stars twinkle especially brightly and solemnly.

Christmas bells are ringing all around. This is Rudolph, along with other deer, ready to rush off on a trip around the world. Finnish Santa Claus must hurry, because there is very little time left before dawn. The children will wake up, and everyone will find under the Christmas tree, or on the window, or in a sock on the fireplace, a cherished gift from the main Christmas wizard. In our next article, we will tell you. Every year a huge number of tourists go there, and you may want to go next year.

… that's how they used to be, before the invention of Coca-Cola.

Christmas magicians in Finland

On this fabulous night, wizards come to congratulate us. Each nation has its own, but the New Year has become a link for them.

Let's get acquainted with all the New Year's wizards and figure out the degree of their relationship, find out the names that they bear in different countries. Are they similar or different? Relatives, friends or just colleagues? And I wanted to start with the history of Joulupukki, our nearest northern neighbor from Finland.

Origin of Joulupukki

You will never confuse our majestic Santa Claus with his young companion Snegurochka with colleagues and relatives from any country. Previously, he lived in Lapland, and a few years ago he moved to his own Russian residence, located in the Vologda region. In northern Lapland, his Finnish friend named Joulupukki remained. This name came from the distant Middle Ages and is translated not very nicely - Yule (or Christmas) goat. Yule was celebrated as the winter solstice. On the eve of the celebrations, the goat had to check the readiness of each house for the celebration. The hostesses tried to appease the exacting auditor with sweet treats.

Since the 19th century, Joulupukki began to deliver Christmas gifts from house to house. In the twenties of the last century, the children's program "Children's Hour" was broadcast on Finnish radio. TV presenter Uncle Markus told the kids a story about an old man in a red coat. Say, that white-bearded old man went around the whole world and reached Lapland. He leaned on a staff, and a heavy bag hung on his shoulder. Tired grandfather, sat down on a stone to rest and spun. He has no assistants, he will not have time to please the kids in time, to distribute gifts. The elves and dwarves heard the complaints of the old man and decided: we will help the grandfather, we will please the children. But with the only condition: let the grandfather stay with us in Lapland forever.

Thanks to the help of the gnomes, the grandfather managed to congratulate all the kids. And since then he has remained in Lapland forever. Grandfather settled on the Korvatunturi mountain, which looks like a hare's ears and can hear the requests of children from all over the world. However, the mountain has another quality: in some cunning way, it manages to find out whether the children behaved well or badly all year. Mount Korvatunturi conveys this information to Joulupukki, and he decides on his own who to congratulate on the holidays.

Joulupukki got married, the name of his chosen one is Muori. Gnomes live with a married couple.

… our majestic Father Frost and his young companion Snegurochka will never be confused with colleagues and relatives from any country.

Father Frost's residence in Finland

Over time, Joulupukki built himself a huge residence in Rovaniemi, next to the eared mountain. A tunnel was dug between the mountain and the residence.

... Joulupukki moved to a reindeer team, with the creation of a new image.

… Joulupukki works non-stop, every year he has to process more than 700 thousand letters.

Joulupukka's work

Numerous gnomes, more than three dozen of them, help him in hard work. At the main post office in Rovaniemi, there is the post of Chief Postal Gnome. On a special board, he makes notes about how many letters have come for Joulupukki. The sly Postal Gnome reminds everyone that he loves gifts too.

And Mrs. Muori is engaged only in household chores.

Joulupukki has numerous reindeer herds. Grandfather has to take care of them, feed them in the summer.

Lyrical digression

Rumor has it that Mrs. Muori collects the buds, brings them home, puts them in pots and covers them with a towel. By morning, gnomes appear from the cones. Like it or not, it's hard to say, but rumors do not arise from scratch. Another rumor swept through Finland. They say that my grandfather's wife was unusually jealous. Once she saw her missus with a young pretty tourist. They were heading to the summer residence of Kalevala. Something rolled over the respectable lady, she set fire to the house, where the grandfather and the young lady had disappeared. Everything, fortunately, ended well, and the residence was quickly restored.

Grandpa loves to fish. The gnomes help Joulupukki here in every possible way.

Here he is such a hard worker, Finnish good grandfather Joulupukki. There is a belief that Joulupukki brings good luck to everyone who visits his residence.

Whom he looks more like, our Santa Claus or the traditional Santa Claus, you be the judge.

… Mrs. Muori also takes care of the deer.

Guests Joulupukki

Every year, many tourists from all over the world come to the residence of Rovaniemi. New Year in Finland is celebrated as cheerfully as in the whole world, with fireworks, rockets, firecrackers.

Traditions

According to the tradition that has developed in Finland, Joulupukki personally visits each family. Entering the house, the grandfather asks: “Do obedient children live here?” Of course, the answer "no" Joulupukki never heard.

Having heard a positive answer, the long-awaited New Year's guest brings gifts. In general, the celebration of the New Year in Finland is very similar to the Slavic. In it, reality is closely intertwined with a fairy tale. The Finns celebrate the New Year at home, with a plentiful feast. On New Year's Eve, Finns tell fortunes on molten tin or wax. What the tin will show can be expected in the coming year.

The celebration comes after the visit of Joulupukki. The main thing is to lure grandfather into your house. The bait is a Christmas tree, decorated with burning garlands. And the grandfather gives gifts after they sing a song to him, tell a poem or dance. A gift appreciated by Finns is a candle symbolizing love and friendship.

The Finns have a Christmas and New Year tradition - to give each other fresh red flowers. The flowers are called Christmas Star.