Christmas

Joulupöytä (translated "Christmas table") is the name of the traditional food board served at Christmas in Finland. It contains many different dishes, most of them typical for the season. The main dish is usually a large Christmas ham, which is eaten with mustard or bread along with the other dishes. Fish is also served (often lutefisk and gravlax), and with the ham there are also so-called "laatikot", casseroles with liver and raisins or potatoes or rice and carrots. The traditional Christmas beverage is either alcoholic or non-alcoholic mulled wine ("glögi" in Finnish).

The traditional dishes of joulupöytä contain:

• Ham
  Boiled potatoes
  Lutefisk and white sauce
  Gravlax
  Liver and raisin casserole
  Potato casserole
  Carrot casserole
  Turnip casserole
  Rosolli (salad from boiled beetroots, carrots, potatoes and cucumber. If served with herring, it becomes sillisalaatti)
  Liver pudding
  Various sashimi, usually from salmon, whitefish and pikeperch
  Pickled herring in various forms (tomato, mustard, matjes or onion sauces)
  Mustard
  Various sauces

Beverages most often served are:

• Akvavit as appetizer
• Mulled wine
• Beer, usually special Christmas brands. Most Finnish breweries have seasonal beers for Christmas.
• Milk
• Wine is uncommon, but not rare

The usual desserts are:

• Plum soup
  Rice porridge
  Ice cream with jam
  Confectioneries and other sweets, especially chocolate

Usually the rice porridge is served from a large, common kettle and an almond has been hidden in it. The one who gets the almond gets his or her Christmas presents first.

External links

• Santa´s Lapland and Christmas Club - Christmas Recipes
• Finnish Christmas recipes