Gone With The Finns: Christmas Eve in Espoo, Finland.

The blueberry smoothies.

Above is the assortment of fish. Below is the ham and sauteed reindeer.

The temple missionaries were invited to the home of Ilkka and Paula Aura to enjoy a true Finnish Christmas Eve celebration, there were nine of us. We arrived at noon and soon thereafter started eating. We began with Finnish rice porridge (riisi puuro). This is prepared by cooking the rice in milk for about four to five hours, then eaten with either butter, cinnamon, sugar, cream, or fruit syrup or all put together. Then we played games, sat around and talked. Sauna was then offered. All that wanted to go went. The rest did some more talking and game playing. After sauna was complete, the fresh salmon was place on the smoker and smoked. While the salmon was smoking we all sang songs and shared memories of Finland long ago. The climax was the Christmas story in Luke. About six o'clock pm dinner was served and served and served. We had a large variety of foods. The fish included: smoked salmon, salmon, white fish, fried muikku (with eyes and heads still attached) and marinated muikku, heads removed, raw herring, cured reindeer, sauteed reindeer, fresh kinkku (ham), and fresh lingonberries (everything was thus far served cold). The hot foods were: carrot casserole, rutabaga casserole, mashed potatoes, boiled Lapland potatoes, and an American green salad with avocados. We drank water, fizzie water (carbonated water), mehu (fruit drink) and fresh frozen blueberry smoothies (without sugar). Deserts were provided by missionaries so they were not so Finnish. Raw apple cake, apple pudding with sauce, tapioca pudding, and some gluten free pasteries. It took us a while to eat! After dinner had settled we visited two graveyards, one in Espoo and one in Helsinki. The Finns really honor their dead, especially war dead. Candles are lit and placed on the graves. It is a beautiful sight to behold to see a dark graveyard shimmering in the night. The weather was normal for this time of year. It was warmer here than in our home state of Utah. It was rainy and dark outside, but really warm and fun inside. We arrived back home at 10:30 pm. We were all tired out. It was a very special Christmas Eve that will always be remembered because of two wonderful unselfish people, Ilkka and Paula Arua. Thank you.