I am a 37 year old man from the archipelago of Orkney in the far north of Scotland. Since I have been living in Finland now for years, come let me show you the city I have chosen to be home from the perspective of both a foreigner and a local. Get the answers to the real questions about Finnish life and culture from a natural born storyteller. Let me show you a part of Helsinki you would otherwise miss and hear stories you would never hear!
Pickup
The starting point of the tour in on the pedestrian street Keskuskatu (Keskuskatu 2). I will be waiting for you between the department store Stockmann and the Marimekko store. I will be holding a sign that has the Orkney flag (red with a yellow-blue cross).
Description
Join us on this new seasonal myths and legends tour! Discover the festive season through Helsinki’s most interesting and beautiful central areas and hear the story of Helsinki and Finnish culture through urban legends, myths and mysteries.
Finland is the home of Santa - learn the origin story of Santa Claus and why he chooses to make Finland his home. Hear scarier origins of Christmas customs from folklore, pagan tradition and pre-Christian tales of Yule. Learn what Finnish Christmas pastimes look like, discover the most famous Christmas window in Finland and learn how it relates to the national composer! Find out which strange Christmas tradition came from German royals, and which Finnish Yule traditions predate Helsinki itself? See Christmas lights, Christmas hats, Christmas cheer and end at the Christmas market to get some tasty Christmas treats.
See Helsinki’s finest landmarks to learn the story of Helsinki through myths, mysteries, urban legends and more. Walk to discover Finnish arts, culture, language and society. Discover life in Finland through the ages, through Finnish eating, drinking and national pastimes. Wander round a famous park by the waterfront going past the botanical gardens that survived a war to find a king’s palace without a king. Discover one of Europe's largest Jugend districts and see the grand historical centre and discover its secrets!
Tour Map
