"Are there any good children in the house?" asks Santa Claus, dressed in his red coat, when he visits homes, daycare centers, and schools. He might even have an elf assistant with him.
In the olden days, Christmas preparations began well in advance in December. This was when they initiated Christmas gift vigils, where people tended to socialize more than they actually crafted. The secrets of Christmas were meant to be kept until Christmas Eve.
Carolina Borg, daughter of Dean Borg of Saloinen vicarage, wrote to her sister in Vaasa in the 19th century: "We started the preparation of Christmas presents late, so late that we had to work into the nights. One night, a group of girls had a vigil at Mimmi Durchman's place, and we stayed there until four in the morning. For three other nights, Rosa and I had vigils at home in the vicarage."
But if Santa Claus's workshop is at Korvatunturi in the Finnish Lapland, and the elves there are making gifts according to children's wishes, then why do they need Christmas gift vigils? That's one of the great mysteries of Christmas.
Joulupukki or Santa Claus didn't always wear a red suit. It wasn't until the 1960s that the Finnish Santa Claus started wearing red clothing. Before that, Joulupukki wore an inside-out fur coat, a fur hat on his head, mittens on his hands, and felt boots on his feet.
More information in Finnish
Aki Pulkkanen: Pohjolan Joulu
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