After Christmas, the New Year is the next festal occasion. The New Years Eve celebration is traditionally a boisterous and joyful event for adults and children, often spent with close friends and family. For children, the highlight of the evening is usually the fireworks which are displayed at the turn of the year.

After the fireworks, usually follows the tradition of telling the future from the shapes taken by melted tin. Shops sell special ladles and horseshoe-shaped tin for this event. After melting the tin in the ladle on the hot plate, it is rapidly poured into a bucket with cold water.

New Year Eve's serving of meals doesn't have any particular specialties in Finland. Usually it is a buffet table with different cold and warm foods and snacks, such as potato salad, sausages, salads, meatballs, dip sauces and chips. And of course, the different stimulants are part of the occasion. At the turn of the year, sparkling wine-, or champagne bottles are opened, and people wish each other Happy New Year ("Hyvää Uuttavuotta").

For information on how to cook and prepare Traditional Finnish Foods, from the everyday dishes to the festive meals and desserts, served on Finnish holidays and celebrations, please visit the Finnguide Finnish Recipes Section.

On New Year's Eve, Sunday the 31st of December, shops can be open from 12 pm till 6 pm.
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