Antti

SKS, Finnish Literature Society, has published a lot of interesting books about Finnish culture. Their little Christmas booklet, Joulupilke, lists important dates that are related to Christmas. Today 30.11., is Antti's day, the beginning of winter and Christmas season. Also today should be good weather for using a sleigh. On many years that hasn't been true, but this year the weather has permitted at least using a pulk filled with children.

Kustaa Vilkuna, in his classic book Vuotuinen ajantieto, has listed several sayings about the meaning of this day. Today the winter weather should arrive, and the preparations for Christmas foods and drinks should be started.

Vilkuna mentions that the name Antti comes from apostle Andrew, who is especially a protector fishermen. He suggests that a mythical wise giant from Finnish folklore, Antero Vipunen, would also refer to the apostle. Andrew's symbol is a diagonal cross, which has reminded hunters of one type of trap, "vipuansa". Wikipedia article about Antero Vipunen mentions this theory of the mythical creature's origins as a less probable one.

* * *

As the month changes to December, many people hang up their Christmas calendars. According to candy company Fazer's website the idea of a Christmas calendar was brought to Finland from Sweden by Teresita Fazer in 1940's. They were first sold by girl scouts to raise money. The scout calendar is still sold every year for the same purpose.

Nowadays the variety in Christmas calendars is huge. Also in our family several different calendars are opened every day.  We also have an action calendar. We made an angel post box, where the girls find every morning a letter from an angel called Ilta. The letter includes a task for the day, like "make a snow lantern" or "send Christmas cards".

I originally did that calendar only for one year to try it out, but our oldest child, who was only three years old at the time, was so impressed by it, that she started to wait for the angel's letters long before the next December arrived. Watching how eagerly she waited I didn't have much other choices than to make the calendar again for the next year. At least I won't forget to send the Christmas cards either.