Green Easter

It’s time for Easter decoration. In Finnish houses you will find this grass on the tables and in the windows during the Easter time. It is common to have real grass at home and to decorate it with small yellow Easter chicks. To get your own Easter grass you can either buy a package of seeds (which might be a bit late by now) or you just get your ready-to-place grass from the stores. In round aluminum boxes you get take-away grass. Back home you can not just use it as decoration but it might also be a perfect place to hide the eggs.

Happy Easter!

Summer will come soon... Beware!

Pascal, import good

Drawings by Eric Leraillez | Script by Camille Scoccini

Pascal has moved to Finland. What a challenge for a Southern European! His Finnish friend Kari, joyful chap, always makes sure Pascal understands the small details that can easily lead to big misunderstandings when one is confronted to a new culture. A mix of gentle naivity and playful outlook over the land of Santa Claus. Enjoy!

A pint of London

It’s Saturday. Why don’t you check out a new pub? What about the London Pub?

It’s located next to Tennispalatsi on Fredrikinkatu. It might not look that nice from outside but don't be scared off by that. Inside you’ll find a nice and cozy atmosphere, comfortable booths and surprisingly much space. They also have a good collection of whiskey and beer. Half a liter of London Pride and Keisari Luomu is “just” 5 €. That’s a pretty good price for a pub with such a central location.

So maybe give it a try tonight. 

Cheers!

Via Crucis at Senaatintori

As every year also this Good Friday the crucifixion of Christ is reenacted in Helsinki. At 9 p.m. after the sun has set a procession of people in ancient robes heads towards the steps of Tuomiokirkko on Senaatintori. Illuminated by torches the trial, the walk to Mount Golgotha and the crucifixion is shown while a narrator reads out the story from the bible.

The narration and the play are in Finnish. But even if you don’t understand it is worth going there and watching. The big white Tuomiokikko as a setting makes the performance something special.

Finland is Moominland!

Who doesn’t know the Moomins, those small friendly trolls that have brought happiness to generations of children? And most of you probably know that they are invented by a Finn. Tove Jansson published her first Moomin book in 1945. She was a Swedish speaking novelist, illustrator, painter and comic strip author. Her little Moomin trolls became world famous and soon the first TV series about them was produced. In the 90s a Japanese-Dutch animation series became the probably most successful approach to put the Moomins on the TV screen.

Meanwhile the Moomins achieved cult status. Near Turku there is even a whole Moomin amusement park. And of course you can also buy all kinds of merchandise products with Moomins. Among the nicest are the Moomin cups designed and produced by Arabia. You can get them in every iittala store or warehouse in Helsinki.

At Forum you even find a Moomin shop. It is a pretty small but nice place that is worth a visit and definitely a place when you are searching for a present or a nice souvenir from Finland.

Help for newcomers in Finland

Moving to a new country is always a big step. You have to get used to the new surroundings, the differences to your home county and you also have to fight your way through a lot of bureaucracy. To make things a bit easier Luckan, the Swedish speaking community for information, culture, art and cooperation offers help. Their bridge program aims to provide information and counseling service for people new in Finland. They arrange events in English language but also can provide you with personal assistance if you need help. You arrange a meeting or can just drop by at their information point at Simonkatu 8 any time. Most of their services are for free.

World’s Best Pizza

Did you know that according to America’s Plate International Pizza Competition the best pizza in the world is sold by the Finnish pizza chain Kotipizza?

And there is actually a funny story behind the award winning pizza: Having visited Finland the former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi complained about the horrible Finnish cuisine and how it would in no way be comparable to Italian food. To make fun of him Kotipizza created a rye pizza with smoked reindeer and named it after Berlusconi. In 2008 the pizza won the title “Best Pizza in the Word” winning against a competing pizza from Italy.

But apart from Berlusconi they also have some other really good pizzas. Try for example their BBQ Kotzone or the amazingly delicious Burgerpizza.

The new University Library building

After years of work and an ugly construction site at Kaisaniemi the new library building of the University of Helsinki has finally been revealed. The new Kaisa House has a pretty astonishing architecture and fits very well between its surrounding buildings. The big glass front ensures a lot of natural light inside and gives the library a unique look. Go and take a look!

Unfortunately due to moving the City Centre Campus Library many of the libraries will be close for several weeks.

Watch out for the trolls!

On the Sunday before Easter (Palm Sunday) you can see mysterious creatures on the streets everywhere in Finland. Trolls (virpojat) are walking from house to house, ringing doorbells and trading decorated branches for candies. Maybe you were lucky and also got to see some of them today.

It is one of the favorite days of the year for Finnish kids. Already days before they start preparing as many branches as they can with colored feathers and ribbon to get lots of chocolate, gummy bears and all the other things kids love.

Nature in the city

One of the amazing things about Helsinki is that you can be surrounded by nature without even leaving the city. The southern part of Lauttasaari for example is a wonderful place for a walk through the woods along the coast. Some people even have their summer cottage (mökki) here. Especially in summer it’s beautiful there but already at this time of the year it’s worth a visit.