What’s Closed When-2006 Holidays

Travelers to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, or Iceland in November or December should be aware of holiday schedules, closures, and traditions.

Christmas and New Year. Things grid to a halt at the end of December, when people hunker down at their homes or countryside cottages with family and friends. A few stores will be open the morning of December 24 but they’ll close in the early afternoon. They will remain closed through December 26 and some smaller stores may stay closed until after the New Year. Public transportation in major cities is suspended on December 24 and 25 or it may run on a reduced schedule. In Helsinki, some hotels close from December 24-26. Museums might be closed during this week, so check with the museums you want to visit for a schedule of dates and times they will be open this time of year.

Finnish Independence Day – December 6. Finland will celebrate its’ 89th year of independence from Russia on December 6. Virtually all public establishments will be closed. In Helsinki there will be a parade on Mannerheimintie, one of the main thoroughfares. If you can stand the cold weather, wait in the square in front of the Tuomiokirkko (Lutheran Cathedral) to hear speeches by President Tarja Halonen and other dignitaries. The Men’s Choir normally performs, too. Television stations broadcast the Finnish glitterati entering the annual Presidential Palace gala. Houses all over Finland place candles in windows.

Santa Lucia – December 13. Santa Lucia is a festival of light celebrated during the darkest time of the year. Girls traditionally don wreaths of lingonberry twigs on their heads, carry candles, and sing songs to Santa Lucia. Since it is not a bank holiday, most places won’t close.

All Saint’s Day – November 4. Finland and Sweden celebrate All Saints’ Day, a public holiday that falls on Saturday November 4 this year. Virtually all public establishments will be closed. When it gets dark, Finns and Swedes go to cemeteries where their loved ones are buried. They place candles on graves to honor the memory of the deceased. The cemeteries, packed but hushed, glow with the light of hundreds of candles. The best place to catch a glimpse of this tradition in Stockholm is at the Skogskyrkogården cemetery in the south of town. In Helsinki, go to the huge Lappinlahti cemetery.

While many things close, one of the high points of traveling this time of year is visiting Northern European holiday markets and festivals. See these articles for information on holiday events in Oslo, Helsinki, and Copenhagen this November and December.