#4 of this occasional series
The series began because Finns claim the original
Santa as their own. You didn’t know he is actually from
Korvantunturi, in Lapland? And you thought it was the North Pole —
silly you. This emoji represents the feeling of never-ending wait for
Santa.
At Christmas there’s a special
pastry, called joulutorttu. The Finland site This is Finland
describes it as the feeling of having one too many. “Every year you
burn your mouth on the first one — beware of the plum jam in the
middle! The sweet taste and nostalgia make up for it.” (More on this
and other Finnish Christmas customs—see my posts in December 2015.)
A pikkujoulut is the Christmas
party emoji, in which Finns depart from their quiet selves and become
wild party animals.
Rounding out the set are five more, that describe feelings during our long winters.
Wooly socks — the feeling of
granny-made warmth — are worn while skiing or while sick, like a
Finnish national costume, and even with flip-flops. (Remember Fashionista Finns, in post #3?)
A sleeping bear — wanting to
sleep all winter. “Sometimes when the long dark winter seems to
stretch endlessly ahead, you just feel the bears have a point in
hibernating.”
The feeling of sunless days — that
period between December and January is called kaamos.
“Stuck” is that very universal
experience of putting one’s tongue on metal when it’s freezing
outside. You know you shouldn’t — but you try it anyway.
Four season BBQ and “Meanwhile in Finland”
both express a sense that temps around 0°C
seem warm — and we see folks wearing
shorts, even people sunbathing, because we’re sooo tired of winter.
Nikki
