What is the name of Finnish Santa Claus? What does Finnish Santa Claus look like and where does he live? Santa Claus (Joulupukki) in Finland See what "Joulupukki" is in other dictionaries

In every country, New Year is celebrated differently. And each country has its own wizards. But our compatriots know only two: Father Frost and Santa Claus. In this article you will learn about another elderly man who fulfills the wishes of children. Read below about the name of the Finnish Santa Claus, what his marital status is and where he lives.

Strange name

Few people know the name of the Finnish Santa Claus. Probably precisely because his name is complex - Joulupukki. If you literally translate the two words from which the wizard’s name is formed, you get “Christmas” and “goat.” It's a bit strange, isn't it? But the Finns know the history of their Joulupukki, so this name does not seem strange to them.

Previously, the winter wizard went to congratulate children in the skin of a goat. After all, unlike his European colleagues in office, the Finnish Santa Claus moved on foot. But history is silent about where grandfather got the horns on his head. But even in our time, the symbol of Christmas in Finland is considered not only a decorated Christmas tree, but also a goat.

Finnish legend

Children are told fairy tales about each of the New Year's wizards. And there is a legend about Joulupukki. Once upon a time, a wizard went to wish children a Merry Christmas. But his path was far, because he walked alone and moved exclusively on foot. And then he reached Lapland and realized that before Christmas came he would not have time to give gifts to all the children. The wizard was sad.

The good gnomes heard Joulupukki's lamentations and decided to help him. But life was boring for them in snowy Lapland, and they set a condition: after all the gifts were given to the children, the Finnish Santa Claus would move to live with the gnomes. Joulupukki was ready to do anything to deliver the gifts on time. After Christmas was over, the wizard kept his word. He moved to live with the gnomes, and they not only built him a fabulous residence, but also sewed him a suit in the latest European fashion.

A red fur coat and a hat with a pompom replaced the goat sheepskin coat. But, unlike his European counterparts, Joulupukki is accustomed to the warmth. His residence maintains a positive temperature, and very often young visitors can find their grandfather wearing a red vest over a white shirt.

Joulupukki's wife

We found out what the name of the Finnish Santa Claus is, and now we will reveal the secret of the personal life of the elderly wizard. The gnomes helped their friend get a home and change his wardrobe, and they also advised him to settle down. So, Joulupukki, already at an advanced age, married Muori. In Finnish legends, this elderly lady is mentioned as the personification of winter. So the two people most beloved by children began to live together. Of course, they don’t have children, but they don’t need them. After all, all year round, elderly wizards are busy making gifts for children who behave well.

Joulupukki Summer Residence

Finnish Santa Claus, like any other wizard, has his own castle. Moreover, Joulupukki has two houses - one summer, the other winter. During the warm season, Finnish Santa Claus lives in Mount Korvatunturi. It is located on the very border with Russia on the territory of the Urho Kekkonen Nature Reserve. The mountain has a height of 486 meters. It is the successful location of the residence that helps the Finnish Santa Claus Joulupukki collect information about the behavior of children. Indeed, in translation Korvatunturi means “eared mountain”. There are ears on three sides that help Santa Claus collect information about which children behave well and which children behave poorly. Naturally, the gnomes help Joulupukki collect and systematize the information received. After all, it’s difficult for one person to look after the children of the whole world.

Joulupukki Winter Residence

With the onset of cold weather, Finnish Santa Claus moves to his office in Rovaniemi. It is connected by an underground tunnel to Mount Korvatunturi, the summer residence. Here in the capital of Lapland, every child who speaks Finnish knows and loves Santa Claus. After all, how can you not know him when the winter wizard has his own town in Rovaniemi. Here is not only the residence of Joulupukki, but also a bakery where you can taste real gingerbread, a museum of ice figures, a school of elves, and also its own post office. Where would we be without her? There are children all over the world who know the name of Finnish Santa Claus. They send their letters to the wizard with New Year's wishes. And of course they get answers.

But the main thing is that children rush to the residence in Rovaniemi to see Santa Claus. After all, as you know, the Finnish wizard does not hide from children. He brings gifts personally into the hands of each child, and therefore children from a young age believe in the famous grandfather and love him. In his office, Joulupukki usually greets children not in a parade, but in his everyday attire.

Children come to the wizard’s office, he writes a line in his book, looks up and asks the traditional question: “Are you good children?” And only after a positive answer does the grandfather honor the guys with a conversation. His wife sits next to Joulupukki, knitting socks that are then used to decorate the fireplaces.

Every child and adult knows the main character of the winter holidays. The one who leaves gifts under the tree and charges the atmosphere with holiday and New Year's fun. A legend associated with an unknown person who came to low-income families and gave gifts appeared back in the 4th century in Turkey. And to this day, the belief in the mystical Santa Claus lives on, who lives in Lapland surrounded by gnomes and delivers gifts on his reindeer. Some people are afraid of him, while others wait for him every year and dream of meeting him. But how is the Finnish Santa Claus different from the one we know? And why is Joulupukki the most famous Santa Claus in the world?

The Finnish Santa Claus is called Joulupukki, he lives in the North Pole and helps bring the Christmas spirit to every home in Finland. Joulupukki means "Christmas goat" in Finnish. In Scandinavian countries, the Christmas goat was depicted wearing a straw hat and was associated with the herald of Christmas.

Just two centuries ago, the Finnish Father Frost was depicted in the form of a goat with small horns. And now he looks like Santa Claus. He has a snow-white long beard, which completely hides his emotions, and only his kind eyes are visible. Through his glasses he looks at all the children and asks: “Are you good children?” Finnish Santa Claus in a red suit, which always makes him stand out.

Also, the name Joulupukki is associated with the historical celebration of the New Year by the Finns. Residents of small villages put on goat's fur coats and distributed gifts. Folk legends say that it was they who scared Joulupukki away and now he does not ride a sleigh with reindeers from his Residence.

Residence of Finnish Santa Claus: where Joulupukki lives

Finnish Santa Claus lives in the north - in. Since the middle of the 19th century, Mount Korvatunturi has been his permanent residence. Mount Korvatunturi resembles ears. Legend has it that this is what helps Finnish Santa Claus hear the dreams of all the children in the world. His wooden residence is decorated with light bulbs. And on the eve of Christmas it is filled with noise and preparation for the holiday. The gnomes fill out Christmas cards, prepare gift lists, and sign forms.

To ensure that the message reaches Joulupukki, many children write letters and send them to his official postal address: Finlandia, 99999, Korvatunturi. You just need to express your thoughts and desires, you can do it in the form of a drawing, attach a stamp and send it. Half a million letters arrive annually to the small but world-famous residence.

The temperature in Lapland reaches -30°C, but this does not at all prevent Joulupukki from bringing celebration into people's lives, and even helps. He glides through the snow with ease on his reindeer-drawn sleigh. The most important of them is Rudolph with a red nose, who lights the way. But Rudolph the reindeer alone cannot visit all the children, so he has many such helpers.

The belief that Joulupukki is the real Santa Claus is so strong that many tourists come to meet him in Lapland and ride real reindeer. The impressions are indescribable, because this is an opportunity to feel like a real Santa Claus.

Joulupukki's wife

Joulupukki has a Finnish wife, the Snow Maiden – Joulumuori, who personifies winter. They live together in Lapland with gnomes and reindeer. When Joulupukki is not busy preparing for the Christmas holidays and having fun with the children, they spend time together. But before Christmas, everyone is preparing for the celebration. Also, Joulupukki, together with the gnomes, says greetings in Finnish cities that are located near Lapland.

Joulupukki
Joulupukki

Joulupukki on the street of Helsinki
Creator

folk art
Information
Nickname

"Christmas Goat"
View

Christmas grandfather
Floor
Citizenship

Finland Finland
Occupation

gives gifts for Christmas
Relatives

Muori(wife)

The second part of the word is pukki(goat) - comes from the old Finnish, still pagan tradition of mummers nuuttipukki and kekripukki. As Nuuttipukki, there were often young people dressed in a fur coat turned inside out, and a mask made of birch bark, depicting a horned creature according to the shamanic model. Sometimes there were two of them - one person was the head of the monster, the second represented the back part. They went around houses, giving gifts to obedient children and scaring naughty ones. From 1131 to 1708 this day was January 7, after 1708 (and now) January 13 is the name day of the male name Nutti.

Walking with a goat represents a remnant of a belief that has left numerous traces in both Western and Eastern Europe. According to the interpretation of the German mythologist Wilhelm Mannhardt (Wilhelm Mannhardt, 1831–1880), it was that the soul of the cornfield (hay harvest and plants in general) is a goat- or goat-like creature (like Faun, Silvanus), pursued by the reapers and hiding in the last uncompressed sheaf .

Place of residence

Christmas traditions in Finland

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Notes

Excerpt describing Joulupukki

Anatole turned to the Englishman and, taking him by the button of his tailcoat and looking down at him (the Englishman was short), began repeating to him the terms of the bet in English.
- Wait! - Dolokhov shouted, banging the bottle on the window to attract attention. - Wait, Kuragin; listen. If anyone does the same, then I pay one hundred imperials. Do you understand?
The Englishman nodded his head, not giving any indication as to whether he intended to accept this new bet or not. Anatole did not let go of the Englishman and, despite the fact that he nodded, letting him know that he understood everything, Anatole translated Dolokhov’s words to him in English. A young thin boy, a life hussar, who had lost that evening, climbed onto the window, leaned out and looked down.
“Uh!... uh!... uh!...” he said, looking out the window at the stone sidewalk.
- Attention! - Dolokhov shouted and pulled the officer from the window, who, entangled in his spurs, awkwardly jumped into the room.
Having placed the bottle on the windowsill so that it would be convenient to get it, Dolokhov carefully and quietly climbed out the window. Dropping his legs and leaning both hands on the edges of the window, he measured himself, sat down, lowered his hands, moved to the right, to the left and took out a bottle. Anatole brought two candles and put them on the windowsill, although it was already quite light. Dolokhov's back in a white shirt and his curly head were illuminated from both sides. Everyone crowded around the window. The Englishman stood in front. Pierre smiled and said nothing. One of those present, older than the others, with a frightened and angry face, suddenly moved forward and wanted to grab Dolokhov by the shirt.
- Gentlemen, this is nonsense; he will be killed to death,” said this more prudent man.
Anatole stopped him:
“Don’t touch it, you’ll scare him and he’ll kill himself.” Eh?... What then?... Eh?...
Dolokhov turned around, straightening himself and again spreading his arms.
“If anyone else bothers me,” he said, rarely letting words slip through his clenched and thin lips, “I’ll bring him down here now.” Well!…
Having said “well”!, he turned again, let go of his hands, took the bottle and brought it to his mouth, threw his head back and threw his free hand up for leverage. One of the footmen, who began to pick up the glass, stopped in a bent position, not taking his eyes off the window and Dolokhov’s back. Anatole stood straight, eyes open. The Englishman, his lips thrust forward, looked from the side. The one who stopped him ran to the corner of the room and lay down on the sofa facing the wall. Pierre covered his face, and a weak smile, forgotten, remained on his face, although it now expressed horror and fear. Everyone was silent. Pierre took his hands away from his eyes: Dolokhov was still sitting in the same position, only his head was bent back, so that the curly hair of the back of his head touched the collar of his shirt, and the hand with the bottle rose higher and higher, shuddering and making an effort. The bottle was apparently emptied and at the same time rose, bending its head. “What’s taking so long?” thought Pierre. It seemed to him that more than half an hour had passed. Suddenly Dolokhov made a backward movement with his back, and his hand trembled nervously; this shudder was enough to move the entire body sitting on the sloping slope. He shifted all over, and his hand and head trembled even more, making an effort. One hand rose to grab the window sill, but dropped again. Pierre closed his eyes again and told himself that he would never open them. Suddenly he felt that everything around him was moving. He looked: Dolokhov was standing on the windowsill, his face was pale and cheerful.
- Empty!
He threw the bottle to the Englishman, who deftly caught it. Dolokhov jumped from the window. He smelled strongly of rum.
- Great! Well done! So bet! Damn you completely! - they shouted from different sides.
The Englishman took out his wallet and counted out the money. Dolokhov frowned and remained silent. Pierre jumped onto the window.
Gentlemen! Who wants to bet with me? “I’ll do the same,” he suddenly shouted. “And there’s no need for a bet, that’s what.” They told me to give him a bottle. I'll do it... tell me to give it.
- Let it go, let it go! – said Dolokhov, smiling.
- What you? crazy? Who will let you in? “Your head is spinning even on the stairs,” they spoke from different sides.
- I'll drink it, give me a bottle of rum! - Pierre shouted, hitting the table with a decisive and drunken gesture, and climbed out the window.
They grabbed him by the arms; but he was so strong that he pushed the one who approached him far away.
“No, you can’t persuade him like that,” said Anatole, “wait, I’ll deceive him.” Look, I bet you, but tomorrow, and now we're all going to hell.
“We’re going,” Pierre shouted, “we’re going!... And we’re taking Mishka with us...
And he grabbed the bear, and, hugging and lifting it, began to spin around the room with it.

Prince Vasily fulfilled the promise made at the evening at Anna Pavlovna's to Princess Drubetskaya, who asked him about her only son Boris. He was reported to the sovereign, and, unlike others, he was transferred to the Semenovsky Guard Regiment as an ensign. But Boris was never appointed as an adjutant or under Kutuzov, despite all the efforts and machinations of Anna Mikhailovna. Soon after Anna Pavlovna's evening, Anna Mikhailovna returned to Moscow, straight to her rich relatives Rostov, with whom she stayed in Moscow and with whom her beloved Borenka, who had just been promoted to the army and was immediately transferred to guards ensigns, had been raised and lived for years since childhood. The Guard had already left St. Petersburg on August 10, and the son, who remained in Moscow for uniforms, was supposed to catch up with her on the road to Radzivilov.

21.12.2018 - 13:12

Joulupukki lives in Lapland, on Mount Korvatunturi ( Korvatunturi).

Korvatunturi, “Hill-Ears,” is located on the very border with Russia and is shaped like ears—some say hare ears, some say dog ​​ears. But be that as it may, it is believed that it is thanks to this ear-dwelling that Joulupukki can hear the dreams and desires of all children.

Every year up to 500 thousand letters and postcards from all over the world arrive at Joulupukki post office.

Historically, the word is a homonym of the Finnish language, Joulupukki Literally translated from Finnish it means “Christmas goat.” The latter is depicted as a straw goat and also accompanies the Christmas holidays.

Now Joulupukki looks like the familiar Santa Claus with a white beard, red fur coat and hat, although he retains some national characteristics. But back in the 19th century he was depicted in goat skin and sometimes even with small horns.

Joulupukki has a wife - Muori ( Muori, “old mistress”) - the personification of winter. Joulupukki's assistants are gnomes, who sit in the “Echo Caves” throughout the year and listen to how children around the world behave, and before Christmas they sort out the Christmas mail, help prepare and wrap gifts.

Joulupukki began delivering gifts to homes himself in the 19th century. In the twenties of the last century, the children's program “Children's Hour” was broadcast on Finnish radio. TV presenter Uncle Marcus told the kids a story about an old man in a red fur coat. They say that that white-bearded old man walked around the whole world and reached Lapland. He leaned on his staff, and a heavy bag hung on his shoulder. Grandfather got tired, sat down on a stone to rest and began to spin. He has no helpers, he won’t have time to please the kids or distribute gifts in time. The elves and gnomes heard the old man’s complaints and decided: let’s help grandfather and make the children happy. But with one condition: let my grandfather stay with us in Lapland forever. Thanks to the help of the gnomes, grandfather managed to congratulate all the children. And since then he remained in Lapland forever.

On the eve of Christmas and New Year, Joulupukki prepares for travel. He puts gifts for all obedient and well-mannered children in a large bag decorated with silver stars. And his assistants, the gnomes, harness young reindeer to the super-fast sleigh.

The most famous reindeer of Finnish Santa Claus is, of course, the red-nosed one. Petteri. But Joulupukki cannot travel to every home on just one reindeer, so Petteri is one of many.

Reindeer are strong enough to carry Joulupukki and pull sleighs full of gifts over long distances. Petteri's presence is especially important, as his red nose glows on dark Christmas evenings when Joulupukki gets ready to travel.

Entering the house, the grandfather asks: “Do obedient children live here?” After receiving a positive answer, Joulupukki asks the kids to dance or sing a song, and then gives gifts!

Merry Christmas!

Many have probably wondered: Who is Joulupukki? Well, we'll try to answer!

As you know, almost every nation and every country has one. Yes, our Morozko has many colleagues and incarnations. Finland, a winter, very snowy country, naturally, was no exception.

Joulupukki is the Finnish Father Christmas.

Joulupukki is another New Year and Christmas giver. Outwardly, he is very similar to modern Santa Claus. However, this was not always the case.

Translated from Finnish, Joulupukki literally means “Christmas goat.” And before he was depicted like that, in the form of a straw goat. Finnish Morozko used to be depicted as a gray-haired and gray-bearded old man in a goatskin. Very often he was also depicted with goat horns.

Over time, under the influence of Western culture, the image of Joulupukki became almost copied from Santa Claus, but some elements of local color remained.

Joulupukki has a wife. She represents the personification of winter and cold, her name is Muori.

Among the assistants of the Finnish Santa Claus are numerous gnomes who work tirelessly making gifts for children.

Joulupukki lives with his wife and numerous retinue in Lapland (a geographical area beyond the Arctic Circle), on a mountain called. In Russian the name of the mountain is “Mountain-ears”. This is due to its shape; the mountain looks like a hare's ears. It is believed that it is because of this form that Joulupukki hears all the children who ask him for gifts.

 

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