New Year's Day in Finland

Date and Significance New Year's Day, celebrated on January 1st, marks the beginning of the new calendar year. In Finland, as in many other parts of the world, it is a public holiday filled with various traditions and customs.

History The celebration of New Year’s Day has ancient origins, with festivities timed to coincide with the Gregorian calendar's start. Over time, Finnish New Year traditions have blended Nordic customs with international influences.

Traditions

• Fireworks: Finns traditionally welcome the new year with grand firework displays that light up the night sky at midnight.
• New Year’s Tin: Melting tin and casting it into cold water is a popular tradition where the resulting shape is interpreted to predict one’s fortune for the upcoming year.
• Molybdomancy: Similar to casting tin, this ancient form of divination involves interpreting shapes formed by molten metal.
• New Year’s Resolutions: Making personal promises or goals for self-improvement is common.
• Lentävä Kalakukko: In some areas, a "flying fish rooster" (a type of pie) effigy may be thrown into a fire as a symbol of getting rid of past troubles.

Activities People often attend parties or gather with family and friends to celebrate. Many enjoy a special meal that might include traditional Finnish dishes like cured salmon or herring. The sauna is also popular on New Year's Day as a way of relaxing and symbolically cleansing oneself for the year ahead.

Public events and concerts are common in cities, while television broadcasts often feature comedy shows and year-in-review programs. The President's New Year Speech is an important broadcast where the nation's leader addresses Finns' shared values and prospects for the future.

As a day off work for most people, New Year’s Day in Finland provides an opportunity for rest after the festivities or engaging in outdoor activities such as skiing or ice swimming if weather permits.