As the New Year in Finland is celebrated: with children, prices, traditions, what to do, how to rent a cottage.

New Year in Finland

I think all of us, brought up on Western Christmas films, where Santa Claus and a big beautiful Christmas tree are always present, want something special from the New Year. At this time, they make wishes and make bright plans for the next year.

Finland for the New Year 2019 is one of those countries where the flavor of the Most Important Holiday of the Year is felt especially sharply. First, the proximity of Lapland, Santa Claus and other Christmas and New Year magic. Secondly, the cold weather. What a New Year's miracle without knee-deep snowdrifts?

I suggest starting with the practical part, and if you want to read in more detail how the New Year is celebrated in Finland, get acquainted with the traditions and state entertainment program then get down below.

Where to go for the New Year in Finland?

Traditionally, tourists choose between two destinations: Helsinki and Lapland.

V Helsinki for New Year you can mingle with the cheerful crowd and feel like a part of a big celebration. All the fun in Helsinki takes place on Senate Square... It is from here that the holiday is broadcast throughout the country. These are fireworks, concerts, and congratulations from famous figures of the country. Walks at Christmas markets, the constant mulled wine and champagne.

After the Christmas holidays, sales start in Finland. End of December - the best time to go shopping in Finland. And, of course, as in any capital city, Helsinki has the largest selection of stores in the country.

Lapland for New Year more suitable for families with children and amateurs active rest... Lapland is a region and has several cities. Lapland's most popular New Year city is Rovaniemi. The famous village of Santa Claus is located here. And if you go on vacation with children, Rovaniemi - the best place... Here you and your whole family can truly plunge into the New Year's fairy tale.

In addition, in Lapland you can go skiing, sledding with reindeer and huskies, walk in the forest and see the Northern Lights. V winter time it is seen almost every night.

if you need a ski resort then head to Levi.

I think we figured out the question "where", now let's figure out the "how". You can relax in Finland both independently and on a ready-made tour. I will give all the options and prices, and on the basis of this information you can choose the most suitable option for yourself.

The main thing, take care of your trip in advance. Finland is crazy popular destination on New Year's, and the closer to the holiday, the fewer options you have.

Tours to Finland for the New Year 2019

See prices for tours to Finland in convenient statistics from Level Travel. And check the prices in, sometimes they can vary by several thousand.

How to organize a trip yourself?

Many come to Finland on their own, the price turns out to be a little cheaper, but more preparatory work needs to be done: find accommodation, air tickets, plus mandatory for you, etc. As a rule, large companies come on their own, who rent a cottage in Finland for the New Year and thus save on housing.

How is New Year celebrated in Finland?

In the second half of December, life in Finland seems to slow down. Finns are actively celebrating Christmas, visiting friends and family, and amassing energy for December 31st. As in many other countries, New year's night claims to be the most important night of the year. Competition for it is, perhaps, only on April 30, when the Finns, frostbitten during the long winter, rejoice at the approaching warmth.

Due to the cold weather, many people celebrate New Years in Finland behind closed walls: at home, in bars, restaurants or pubs. On the street, all the action takes place until midnight. And here I cannot fail to mention the fireworks.

Fireworks, like ours, go on the mass sale in December. It is possible to blow up the sky with colored lights only from 18:00 on December 31 to 02:00 on the night of January 1. Just some 8 hours. That is why the Finns come off to the fullest. From 6 pm, you will hear the first timid clapping, which will turn into a real light show by midnight.

I celebrated the New Year in Finland several times, and all the time I watched fireworks from some roof: either a residential building or an office building. And I can say that the most best view opened to me from the bar "Atelier", which is located on the roof of the hotel "Torni", which means "tower". I had to get here early to get a better seat. I stood for a little over an hour on their large balcony, but the light show was well worth the effort.

The country's main holiday takes place in Helsinki, usually at Senate Square. A huge crowd gathers here to listen to the speeches of the city's mayor, bishop and other dignitaries. It also hosts live performances by singers and dance ensembles. The event is broadcast nationwide on major TV channels.

Every Finn knows that the mayor will not say anything special, and he listens with half an ear, but he listens anyway and turns on the TV every year to watch. Sound familiar? What a New Year without the President's congratulatory speech!

As soon as the clock strikes midnight, the festive excitement becomes more relaxed. People rejoice, drink wine, champagne and congratulate each other, shouting "Hyvää uutta vuotta!" - "Happy New Year!" in Finnish or "Gott nytt år!" in Swedish (another official language Finland).

Divination

Another important part of the Finnish New Year is fortune telling. As a rule, they do it immediately after the festive fireworks. One of the most popular New Year divination methods in Finland is by casting molten tin. Each is given a small tin horseshoe (a traditional symbol of good luck). The horseshoe is melted, and the liquid metal is quickly poured into cold water, where it solidifies and takes on a different shape.

It is the shape and shape of the resulting piece that is interpreted to predict the events of the coming year. Various forms mean good luck, health, wealth, happiness, or vice versa grief. If tin breaks into pieces in water, it is a sign of failure.

January 1st

On January 1, the Finns prefer to sleep off. Many are drawn to pain relievers because of the stormy night. Others, on the contrary, prefer to spend this day actively - skiing, walking in parks or putting on snowshoes and getting out into the forest. Coffee on this day is sold in record quantities.

The President's speech, the Vienna New Year's Concert and old Finnish films are watched on TV. They eat up the rest of the festive table. Someone spends this day calmly, realizing the transition to New Year and preparing for new achievements. Someone prefers to tumble into the future with a bang and gaiety, continuing the festivities. Everything is also like ours.

Tour operator Viking - tours and cruises

Viking - Russian Travel Company, founded in 2001 in St. Petersburg. The main directions of tour operator activity are Scandinavia, Finland, the Baltic States and Europe. Thanks to exclusive contracts with ferry companies, Viking has a strong position in the market, and long-term cooperation with hotels and hotel chains allows us to organize high quality group excursion and individual tours at affordable prices. The Viking company has two offices, in Moscow and St. Petersburg, its own staff of guides and a team of 20 professional managers. We are accredited in the consulates of Scandinavian and European countries in Moscow and St. Petersburg and have more than 20 awards for contributions to tourism development from the Tourism Committees and Councils of Norway, Finland, Sweden, the Baltic countries and Europe.

Constant communication with foreign partners, extensive work experience, deep knowledge of the regions and their specifics allows us to maintain high efficiency and quality of services. We send tourists to 26 countries and are happy to offer interesting excursions and routes. Here you can buy a tour to Norway and see the stunning fjords of Norway, book a tour to Iceland with a Russian guide, book a tour to Finland or rent a cottage for a winter or summer vacation, arrange a New Year's tour to the Baltic States with a buffet table, a ball and excursions, buy a sea cruise, organize a personalized tour or car trip. You will never be left without interesting proposals for your children. Every year we organize tours for children to amusement parks in Denmark, Sweden, Finland, as well as excursion tours around Europe for school and ordered groups. For corporate customers, we provide a Russian-language service throughout Scandinavia (Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo, Bergen, Copenhagen) and the organization of business events. Among our clients (the best schools in Moscow, the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Russian Olympic Committee, the Russian National Glory Fund, the Silk Road Rally).

Viking Company is only direct contracts with ferry and cruise companies (Tallink Silja Line, Viking Line, DFDS, Finnlines, Hurtigruten, MOBY SPL), with hotel chains throughout Scandinavia and the Baltic States (Scandic Hotels, Sokos Hotels, Radisson BLU, Best Western, Choice, Clarion Collection, Hilton, Holiday Club Resorts & SPA, Thon Hotels, Lapland Hotels), as well as close cooperation with local guides and transport companies.

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Guaranteed tours

Sightseeing tours in Scandinavia and the fjords of Norway are branded guaranteed tours of the Viking company, organized during the summer season from May to September. Every season we organize more than 20 different routes Scandinavia by bus, ferry and plane. You can buy a tour to Scandinavia from anywhere in the world. Our routes start in Russia or Europe - in cities with convenient rail and air connections - St. Petersburg, Moscow, Helsinki, Tallinn, Stockholm, Oslo or Bergen.

Guaranteed tours to Finland are instant confirmation of all types of accommodation that are in the highest demand. We work with the most developed resorts in Finland from Helsinki to Lapland (Levi, Syariselka, Rovaniemi, Ruka, Vuokatti, Tahko, Himos, Lahti) and offer cottages, apartments and comfort class hotels. Our winter programs focus on Lapland and the Finnish ski resorts, while our summer programs focus on the Saimaa Lake District and the Turku Archipelago.

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Best winter holidays for many it is playing sports. At this time of the year, tourists who prefer alpine skiing visit the resorts in Finland, which offer their guests a high level of service.

Pyhä, Luosto, Levi, Pello (Lapland) and others are called the best ski resorts in Finland for the New Year 2020. Here you can stay in hotels, boarding houses, and you can rent accommodation in the private sector.

Where to ski in Finland for New Year 2020

Some of the most comfortable resorts in the northern part of the country are Pyhä and Luosto in Lapland. According to many Russians who have visited this country, these are the best ski resorts in Finland for New Year and Christmas holidays.

Finns do not hold "spontaneous" tracks in high esteem - they approach everything with thoroughness and professionalism inherent in the inhabitants of this country. Slopes of varying difficulty are equipped here, both for experienced athletes and for beginners.

On the territory of the center there are 7 slopes, illuminated trails and trails with snow cannons, trails for snowboarders, lifts and slides for children. An unforgettable experience Vacationers are left with the magnificent landscapes of Pyhätunturi Park.

Among amateurs alpine skiing in Finland for the 2020 New Year is popular and the resort of Himos, where there are 17 slopes of varying difficulty, as well as Pello in western Lapland, where there are 16 slopes.

For the New Year 2020, ski resorts in Finland provide a high level of service. Experienced instructors provide individual and group lessons.

Ski resorts in Finland for the 2020 New Year

There are many families with children who come to this country during school winter break... In hotels of different price categories, everything is organized for the convenience of vacationers. The cost of living depends on the level of comfort and the range of services provided.

If you have not yet decided where to ski in Finland for New Year 2020, we can also recommend Levi Ski Resort in Lapland.

It is located just 170 kilometers from the Arctic Circle. This is the real residence of Santa Claus, where you can visit the ice hotel, the ice domed hall and admire the original ice sculptures.

Levi is consistently referred to as one of the finest ski resorts in Finland for New Year and Christmas. This resort is located at an altitude of over 530 meters above sea level.

There are 47 slopes here, 28 of them are of increased complexity, a children's playground is equipped. It is no coincidence that many ski lovers in Finland for the 2020 New Year prefer this particular sports center.

However, when planning a vacation here, you should take into account that such new year tours you need to book in advance, as the demand for them is quite high.

Skiing in Finland is becoming more and more popular every year. The secret of popularity, in this case, is simple. An excellent combination of all the necessary components of ski resorts, reasonable prices and a fast flight.

And, of course, a little magic, because Lapland is the birthplace of Santa Claus.
Resorts in Finland are also popular because the snow in the country lies practically from January to April. If we add to this the lighting on all tracks, the presence of handrails on children's tracks, a huge number of lifts, then the picture becomes alluring.
However, let's not rush to conclusions, and consider such ski resorts in 2018 more closely and in detail.

Ski resorts in Finland

In fact, there are not so many ski resorts in Finland, and it is not difficult to understand them. Levy is considered one of the most fashionable and popular in 2018. It is located in the west of Lapland. Just 170 km from the Arctic Circle. There is an airport not far from it, well, and the flight from Moscow will take no more than 2 and a half hours.

The resort is suitable not only for skiers but also for snowboarders. The variety of tracks is so great that not only amateurs, but also professionals will enjoy it. A great place to stay with children. You can please the younger members of the family by visiting the residence of Santa Claus or by riding a dog sled. And then go in a carriage drawn by reindeer to watch northern Lights... By the way, there are special short courses at the resort that will allow you to independently manage the dog sleds. Upon completion, they are given special rights.

Luosto 2018

The Luosto ski resort is located in the center of Lapland. This resort has an atmosphere of tranquility and privacy. Here you will not find noisy youth companies or families with small children. At the same time, it is a very lively resort, where people prefer to relax with their souls and improve their physical shape. Still, being in this resort, you can go on an excursion to the amethyst mine, go down into a real mine and try to get a stone on your own. These attempts, as a rule, always end in success. Well, and amethyst can be safely taken out of the country and carried with you, for good luck. After all, according to legends, he not only brings good luck, but also removes the evil eye.

Basically, when going on vacation in 2018 to Finland in winter with children, you can visit the Santa Claus amusement park, his residence in a real rock. In this case, you will receive a certificate of crossing the Arctic Circle, you can order a letter of congratulations for the next year to your home.

Himos in 2018

Another popular resort among Russians is Himos. Great place in the center of the country. Himos has been voted Finland's best ski resort several times. A characteristic plus of this resort is that in 2018 a fairly large number of staff and instructors who speak Russian are working on it.

Tahko is a very lively ski resort suitable for both professionals and amateurs. He was chosen four years ago the best resort Finland for skiing.

Vuokatti Ski Resort is perfect for 2018 family vacation... In addition to all kinds of children's trails, riding deer, dogs, snowmobiles and visiting Santa Clauses, the resort itself has an excellent water park, a children's play center, a disco pool and other entertainment. So your child will not be bored.