12 ways Finnish Christmas loneliness can eat you alive

Christmas, at least in Finland, is supposed to be a lot of things: family festivities to contrast almost constant darkness. Gifts, rituals, traditions, journeys to home towns.

Everyone isn’t able to go with that flow. Not everyone wants it either.

However, Finnish society shuts down around Christmas, whether you have people to be with or not. So, if you know someone who might want company around Christmas, it’s probably not a bad idea to invite them to some part of your festivities. Loneliness is massive public health problem.

If you’re on the side of waiting out Christmas and things get really gnarly, please be in touch with the crisis hotline of the Finnish Association of Mental Health.

We think this topic is serious: If you have suggestions and helpful tips on things to do during Christmas, let everyone know in the comments down below.

1. As a kid, you’re supposed to be surrounded by enough food, smells, traditions and relatives to feel nostalgia at age 20.

Read Also

• Discover how Vesa Lehtimäki is bringing Star Wars to Finland
• 5 winter activities that won’t make you cringe – Finnish edition
• Functional, punctual and awesome: my first 12 months in Finland
• A Next Generation Finn: Hannu Huhtamo’s hand at light painting photography