“Christmas Eve is an anticlimax for me”: meet the man who turns his home into a Christmas wonderland for months

“Christmas has always been the only holiday that matters to me. Even when I was young, Midsummer, May Day during my student years, or Easter never interested me at all. I really got into Christmas after I finished my studies in the early 2000s—before that, I was held back by my budget and limited hanging space. The first thing I bought for my home was metal Christmas trees, and I began filling them with ornaments. After that, the rest of the hanging space in my home called for more ornaments, so I kept adding. Little by little, I’ve amassed quite a collection.”

I build my home throughout the year to reflect my own style, using decorative items. In October, I make the interior redder and more abundant. I swap out decorations according to the season. It takes about two weeks to set everything up. I bring the decorations up from the closet and basement, assemble the trees, iron the ribbons, and display all the Christmas items. My regular décor goes into storage.

All my decorations reflect my personal style. They bring joy and light during the dark season. I mostly spend my money on Christmas, and I have thousands of euros invested in my ornaments. I’m interested in them and put a lot into them. Why would I keep them out for just two weeks? They’re a big part of brightening my everyday life, so they stay on display for a long time.

I buy figurative ornaments that speak to me in some way and connect to my interests. I lean toward design, so I pick up items from Georg Jensen, Villeroy & Boch, Alessi, and Iittala. Other favorite shopping spots include the Estonian brand Shishi, Weiste, Stockmann, and My O My. I also buy many ornaments on my travels and from large hardware, garden, and interior stores in the capital region.

Every year, I also visit the town of Fiskars, various antique fairs, Design Market, and other events where beautiful items are sold. I’ve visited German Christmas markets too, but they were a bit of a letdown for me. They’re designed for enjoying the atmosphere with food, drink, and friends. Few focus on the commercial aspect and ornaments, which for me is what creates the Christmas feeling.

November and the start of December are the best time of the year. For me, Christmas isn’t about settling down, ambiance, traditions, or spending time with family. It overflows with red, abundance, commercialism, shopping, and that American vibe.

My Christmas is a joyous, socially focused celebration of friends. My social life peaks in November and December, when I invite both old friends and new acquaintances over for rice porridge. I get to show them my ornaments, serve mulled wine, and chat for hours, sometimes with people I only see once a year. I repeat this a few times each season, and by inviting people in small groups, I can really talk to everyone.

“Christmas Eve, when finns typically celebrate christmas, is the anticlimax of Christmas for me. It doesn’t really hold much meaning. We don’t buy Christmas presents, and I’m not particularly into Finnish Christmas foods. I do spend time with my mother, which is nice, but honestly, Christmas Eve itself is pretty dull.”

“After Christmas, I look for interesting ornaments in clearance sales. Sometimes I wait years for certain ornaments to go on sale. I’m patient, and there’s no urgent need for me to buy anything right away. My Christmas doesn’t end with the sales, though. Even in January, I still invite people over for porridge and mulled wine, and I don’t take down my last displays until just before Easter.”