Habitare - the largest design fair in Finland

The largest design fair opens its doors every mid-September in the Helsinki Fair Center (Messukeskus) in Pasila showing all the new trends in home and office furniture, interior decoration and design. Under the roof of this large building are combined the ValoLight, HiFiExpo, ArtHelsinki and Antiikki fairs. In this 2015 edition, find the TalentShop where young designers are presenting their pieces of art that may change your life in the furture.

Festival of light in the dark winter

Every December 13th since 1898 in Finland the light is celebrated in the middle of the dark winter by crowning a young Swedish-peaking maiden in a white outfit with 4 candles. Santa Lucia was once concoinceded with the winter solstice (shortest day of the year) before calendar reforms. This celebration occurs mainly in Scandinavia and in Italy.

Magic is coming

The blue moment at the St. Thomas market in Helsinki

Streets are decorated, shops windows are beautiful, children are opening a new door on their Advent calendar everyday, happy music is played a bit everywhere: there is no doubt. Christmas is coming. During this festive period merchants and handicrafters are selling homemade delicacies and traditional handicrafts. The little wooden houses are poping in every city around the country bringing the Christmas feeling to locals and visitors.

Design, fashion, innovation: the design week

In 2012, Helsinki was the world design capital. The country has a long tradition in functional and innovative design with a couple of iconic designers such as Alvar Aalto, Eero Saarinen or Tapio Wirkkala. Every year in early September during ten days (4th to 14th in 2014), the designers are showing their art in different events in the whole city. Fashion shows, exhibitions, concerts, seminars and galas are just around each corners.

Sports idols: Finnish sports idols and fan culture

Probably the most famous Finnish sportsmen: Jari Litmanen (soccer), Kiira Korpi (figure skating), Kimi Räikkönen (Formula 1), Matti Nykänen (ski jumping) and Teemu Selänne (ice hockey)

The special exhibition named "urheiluidolit" (sports idols) presents Finnish sports idols and fan culture in three museums: Sports museum (Helsinki), Ski museum (Lahti) and the Finnish hockey hall of fame (Tampere). Each museum presents diffrent aspects of fan and fan cultures.

In Helsinki, the exhibition focuses on the sporting heroes from the past and now. The soccer culture is quite strong in the capital city, and as the museum is located just next door to the main football stadium, a wide part of the museum is dedicated to the football fan culture. Finns are naturally proud of the national team but many are following faithfully the English League clubs. But cherry on the cake: the fan that you are can take a picture with his/her idol or send him/her a message!

Symphonic water show in Lahti

Every summer the city of Lahti offers a synchronized music show twice a day at the fountain next to the small lake Pikku Vesijärvi (litterally the small water lake). The fountains built in 1997 was offered by the energy company Lahden Energia to the city. It counts 600 nozzles and the biggest can reach a height of 30m. It is the largest musical fountain in the Nordic countries. During the months of October and November, 250 color lights add more magic to the show in the dark autumn nights.

Helsinki turns into Rio for a few hours

The spirit of the famous carnival of Rio is coming to Helsinki! Império do Papagaio will resonate between the buildings of the city center for a few hours for the 24th time. The Samba carnival brings its rythms, vivid colors and happiness! Over a thousand dancers from different samba schools in the whole country will parade from the Senate Square at 3pm and contines to Unioninkatu, Pohjoisesplanadi (North Esplanade), Mannerheimintie and Aleksanterinkatu. But do not miss the preparation of the teams from 1pm on the same square.

Make your own Magnum!

Dried strawberries, pistachio and mini marshmallows are decorating the Magnum ice cream

In 2014 Magnum is celebrating its 25th anniversary. In the old university house few meters from Stockmann in Helsinki, there is a special bar where you can create your own delicious Magnum ice cream.

Celebrating the world

Peace, respect, tolerance and communication

Every year in May, the World Village Festival is organized in Kaisaniemi park next to Helsinki railway station. It is the biggest free festival of Finland. All kinds of organizations from Red Cross to Green Peace, international or national are presenting their program to the public. But the festival is a great place to meet people and culture from everywhere. Delicious food is available a bit everywhere: Thai, Mexican, Somalian, Chinese, Italian. A full program of aminations keeps the stage busy: music, speeches, demonstartions. Some handicrafts and second hand items can be purchased.

First ever liquorice festival in Finland!

Flickr.com/Judy** (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

During the Antiquity, the roots of liquorice which grow in Southern Europe and in Asia were used for treating the voice. It is still used in many cough syrups.

Salmiakki ice cream

Nowadays the liquorice can be basically found in everything, especially in Finland: tea, chocolate, yogurts, cookies, cakes, ice cream, liqueur, and of course as a candy. The candies are also used for creating jewellery and clothes! Finns simply love it. There is also a salty version that sharply divide people: the salmiakki. You rather love it or hate it. But give it a try! The down side of liquorice is that it increases the blood pressure.

The latest cooking book dedicated to liquorice (Elisabeth Johansson, 28.90€)

After a huge success in Sweden, the liquorice festival is for the first time organized in Helsinki on May 10th, 2014 in Wanha Satama (near the Viking Line terminal in Katajanokka). Many funny workshops and competitions will entertain children and gourmets.

Opening hours: 10-18
Ticket: 10€ (free for children under 10)

Website of the liquorice festival (only in Finnish and Swedish)

Watch Oscar nominee short movie for free!

Nominated to the Oscars in the short film live action category but din't unfortunately get the trophy, the Finnish movie "Pitääkö mun kaikki hoitaa?" (Do I have to take care of everything?) can be watched for free on Yle Areena until Sunday March 16th: Click here (duration: 6 minutes)

It is in Finnish without subtitles but the story is very easy to understand. It shows Finnish humor in an almost everyday family life situation. It also shows that in Finland women are deciding for everything and men are often following, without saying anything and don't take initiatives.

Ice meets art festival

During the whole weekend, 30 top ice sculptors from 10 different countries are competing in the zoo of Helsinki on the island of Korkeasaari. They all have the same time to create the most amazing sculpture according to the theme. Visitors are encourage to vote for their favorite piece of art. The best sculpture will get a price. Some of them are really impressive! But not only professionals can play with ice. Everybody can participation to a common piece of art: decorating an ice wall.

The parks are full of snow (well not really this year) and most of the animals are outside. Even the lions! It is quite different to visit the zoo in winter than in summer time. It is very quiet and relaxing. As there are not too many visitors, people are whispering like at church.

Cheese cake with plum jam and hot chocolate for 6.80€

If you feel cold or are hungry, you can go to the restaurant in the wooden house in the middle of the zoo. The other snack bars are unfortunately closed. It is often pack there and you will probably have to share your table with others. The food is affordable and quite good. In general the dessert of the day is a big temptation. When the night comes, the statues are illuminated by colorful led spots.

The elite of the Finnish cross-country skiers in Vantaa

All the best Finnish cross-country skiers of the country who getting ready for the next Olympic Games in Sochi (Russia) will compete in Hakunila (Vantaa) for the Finnish championships this weekend. The lady stars are: Krista Lahteenmäki, Kerttu Niskanen, Aino-Kaisa Saarinen and Anna Kyllönen who were successful in the last tour de ski. For the men, the World Champion Matti Heikkinen is on the startlist as well as Sami Jauhojärvi and Iivo Niskanen. The program includes on Friday sprint races for both ladies and gentlemen. On Saturday, 10km classic for the women and 15km for the men. Finally, on Sunday, there will be a team sprint (pairs).

Competition will be held in Luotikuja ,Vantaa (Hakunila):
Drive through Kehä Ring III or take bus 740,741,741k,741n,742(Helsinki) or 68,69 (Tikkurila)

Website of the event (only in Finnish)

It's time to plan your holiday!

Finnair flight crew 2005

What a better place to do it than while visiting the biggest Nordic travel fair since 1936 in Pasila, Helsinki? Exhibitors from the whole world will present their most attractive programs and sights: North, South, East, West, summer, winter,... everything!  Many shows will happen on the different stages along the weekend. But you will not only look at nice posters and brochures. It's also a great place to discover different cultures. Handicrafts and local food are also sold. In the Finland area, you can have a sauna (no, it's no joke)! Don't forget to participate to the numerous competitions. You may win a free trip!

A Sàmi at the fake railway station of Helsinki

Website of the fair

Opening hours:

Fri 17 Jan from 12:00-19:00

Sat 18 Jan from 10:00-18:00

Sun 19 Jan from 10:00-18:00

Admissions:

• Adults EUR 16 / person

• Children (7–15 years), pensioners, conscripts, students EUR 10 / person

• Group tickets (at least 10 persons) EUR 10 / person

• Full-time ticket EUR 30 / adults, EUR 20 / children, students, pensioners (these tickets only at the cashiers)

• Family ticket (max. 2 adults and children under the age of 16) EUR 37 

• Under 7-year-olds free of charge

• Under 12-year-olds must be accompanied by an adult.

The pictures were taken in 2005 with my 3 mega pixels camera. That's why the quality is poor.

Winter sales at VR

Sales are everywhere at the moment. VR, the national railway, is having very interesting disounts on numerous lines sold between 8 and 25€ until January 23rd. The travel time have to be between January 24th and February 6th. Hurry up, there are only a few tickets available per day and per destination. The offer works on both directions.

Some of the offers

At 8€: Turku-Tampere, Helsinki-Turku
At 15€: Helsinki-Imatra, Helsinki-Jyväskylä
At 20€: Helsinki-Kuopio, Oulu-Tampere
At 25€: Helsinki-Rovaniemi, Helsinki-Kajaani

Link to the offer

Have a nice and cheap trip!

First snow!

Thin layer of snow

After long wet and dark months, snow is finally arrived until Southern Finland! The ground is now recovered by a thin white layer and the temperature has dropped to minus 9 degrees. The difference with the previous days in big: it is much brighter and also much more beautiful. Today while walking, people looked much happier. What a change with the depressing month of December. Days are getting longer but the sun still sets around 3:30pm. Of course, in Northern Lapland, the sun is much more shy or even doesn't rise at all. When the sun never rises, the phenomenon is called Kaamos.

Frozen pond

Icy road

Happy coffee day!

Coffee with korvapuusti

Finland is the country that consums the largest quantity of coffee worldwide with 12kg per capita. In order to celebrate this record, November 25th is the coffee day! Until noon, all the R-Kioskis are offering free cups of Paulig coffee. Finnish coffee looks and tastes like American coffee and not at all like Italian coffee. This beverage goes well with a sweet bun (pulla).

Happy coffee day!

The Christmas season has started!

Santa Claus left Rovaniemi to open officially the Chritmas period in Helsinki

Shops are decorated since already a couple of weeks, and the Christmas gifts are everywhere. All the cities in Finland are illuminated by their Christmas decorations, and soon the Christmas markets will open. Only a month is left to Christmas. In Helsinki, Santa Claus is coming to the Senate Square to open officially the Christmas season. The lights in Aleksanterinkatu will shine until the beginning of January as well as the Christmas tree.

Moomins songs and choreographies are appreciated by the children

The event is a tradition in the capital. At 1:30pm, the celebrations start with songs for children performed by the Moomin characters and several choirs are singing as well. Every year, a different Finnish star is invited to sing in front of the crowed. This year, the honor has been given to Jesse Kaikuranta. At 3pm, the 6500 light bulbs will illuminate the streets and a Christmas parade will follow in the center. At 3pm, it is dark enough as the sunset is at 3:30pm.

Christmas parade 2012 on the Mannerheimintie

Antti Tuisku was the guest singer in 2011

Lapland is calling

Reindeer sledging in Santa Claus village in Rovaniemi

Snow is by now covering the ground in Lapland and the lakes are getting frozen. Northern Lights can be seen since August already, and the reindeers are wearing their winter colors. There is no doubt: winter is here! Almost as big as South Korea, Lapland counts less than two inhabitants per square kilometers. You have more chance to see reindeers that humans. The region is fascinating. It is a preserved wilderness kingdom where local people, the Sami (Saami in Finnish), are still living with their traditions eventhough they use modern technologies and electricity. In Lapland, you will find many places where to practice sports like skiing, Alpine or cross-country, snowmobile, ice skating, ice fishing and so on. Reindeer or dog sledging are also experiences that are worth to be done at least once in a life time. But you can also enjoy the silence and the beauty of nature, listening to the wood cracking in the fireplace or to relax in a warm sauna. Northern Lights are undoubtably the most amazing observable natural phenomenon.

Now, it's time to plan your winter trip! VR is currently offering discount tickets on their sleeping cars in the night trains. Book your trip before November 25th and travel from November 28th to March 28th 2014. Prices start at 49€ per person or 59€ if you want a shower. As you can see on the price list under, if you have a Veturi account (customer loyalty program), you will save 10 extra Euros. All what you need to get an account is to have a permanent address in Finland. It is free of charge. Have a nice holiday!

Click on the image to enlarge

Link to the offer

Carnival of lights at the amusement park

Magic lights 

Every year mid-October, the amusement park Linnanmäki in Helsinki is having its carnival of lights where most of the machines are decorated with lights. In 2014, the illuminations are visible from October 11th to 19th until 10pm. The entry to the park is free. You only pay if you go for a ride or visit Sea Life, the aquarium.