Christmas Eve is an exciting day for children. They know that Father Christmas (Santa Claus) is coming in the evening to the house bringing presents to all good children and adults, too. He comes from Lapland sitting in his sleigh pulled by his reindeer. The first thing when he comes to the house is to ask: "Are there nice children here?" We sing a welcome song for him:"Welcome Santa, merry Christmas..." He doesn't have time to stay long in one house because he has to hurry further. And he has to visit all the people in Finland the same Christmas eve.
Before the coming of Santa Claus we usually have dinner which contains ham or turkey, different kinds of cassaroles made of liver, carrots, potatoes and swedes. We also eat fish: salmon, herring and Baltic herring prepared in different ways. Rosolli, which is a salad made of carrots, apples, red beet, cucumber in small cubes together with whipped cream which has been coloured pink with red beet. As a dessert we have soup or pudding made of mixed fruit with whipped cream, of course.
After going to the sauna and after Santa Claus's visit people usually go to the cemeteries to light candles on the graves of their deceased beloved ones.
Early in the morning of Christmas Day many people go to the church.
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