Christmas Eve 2025 in Finland

Christmas Eve is the most significant day of the holiday season for many Finns, marked by family gatherings, festive meals, and the traditional visit from Joulupukki (Santa Claus). The day often begins with a visit to the cemetery to honor departed loved ones, and the evening centers around warmth, peace, and togetherness.

Christmas Eve: A Public Holiday?

Christmas Eve is a de facto and bank holiday in Finland. While not officially designated as a public holiday by law, most businesses and banks close, and employees are generally off work due to widespread custom and collective labor agreements.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve, or Jouluaatto, holds deep historical and cultural roots in Finland. The celebration dates back to pre-Christian times, when people marked the winter solstice with fires, feasts, and rituals to welcome the return of light. As Christianity spread through Finland in the Middle Ages, these ancient traditions blended with Christian customs, and Christmas Eve became a sacred time for family, peace, and spiritual reflection. Over time, the evening of December 24 grew in importance, gradually becoming the centerpiece of Finland's Christmas celebrations.

By the 19th century, many of the customs familiar today—such as the Christmas tree, church visits, and special meals—had become common in Finnish homes. The image of Joulupukki, the Finnish Santa Claus, also emerged during this time, inspired partly by folklore and partly by international traditions. Today, Christmas Eve is a cherished occasion, shaped by centuries of cultural evolution and deeply tied to Finnish values of warmth, togetherness, and remembrance.

Christmas Eve Celebration in Finland

Christmas Eve is the most meaningful day of the festive season in Finland. Preparations often begin early, with homes thoroughly cleaned, decorated with lights, and filled with the scent of baked goods. Families gather for a traditional Christmas meal, usually featuring dishes like oven-baked ham, casseroles, and rice porridge. One unique tradition is the declaration of the "Christmas Peace" in the city of Turku, a historic ceremony that has taken place since the 1300s and is broadcast nationally.

A central part of the evening is visiting cemeteries to light candles at the graves of loved ones. This creates a peaceful and touching atmosphere, with graveyards glowing with hundreds of flickering lights. Later, families exchange gifts, often delivered by Joulupukki himself, who visits homes in person, especially where young children live.

Though Christmas Eve is not an official public holiday, it functions as a de facto and bank holiday. Most businesses close early, and many people take the day off. The evening reflects Finland's strong sense of tradition and the importance placed on family, respect for ancestors, and quiet joy.

Christmas Eve Observances