Birthday is quite important for many of us. It is common to think that the time of the year we are born defines us, at least in some ways. How do we then celebrate such an important day in Finland?
Of course a baby’s birth is always a big thing for the parents and possible siblings, but also for grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and friends of the family. The new born is greeted with small gifts, which are either bought at first visit in hospital or home or send to home. It is custom to bring or send flowers to the mother and a small token (a soft toy like bunny or a memento) to the child.
The first birthday, 1 year old finally, can be important for the family. Parents usually invite the close relatives and godparents of the child for a coffee on the actual birthday. The child gets presents, mostly toys suitable for his/her age and quite often clothes too.
When the child grows the presents of course change. Child may get clothes, toys, bicycle, skates, skis, toboggan, games, phone and so on. In some families the guests ask from the parents, what would the child need. And the parents can little bit co-ordinate the presents, so that the child gets suitable presents and not two same kind. It is also a nice way for the grandparents to help the family by buying f. ex. a new bike for the child.
When the child turns 3 or 4 years, comes the children parties. The parents of course decide how many friends the child can invite and where to have the party. For the younger ones the party is usually at home. For older children the party can be at home or also in some other location, like in a adventure park, on a ship, in a museum or in a restaurant. Only sky is the limit. The cost for having party outside home varies from around 15 euros to 35 euros/child + some additional costs. So easily the party costs around 500 euros for the birthday-child + 9 friends. The outside-home-locations of course arrange then the services (snack, juice or soda, cake) and the program. At home the parents usually have to arrange the program themselves.
I have arranged this year already 2 birthday parties at home. The theme was easy both times, because the birthday hero knew what theme to have. The program was quite traditional from my childhood and the kids seemed to like it, because nowadays not so many people anymore have this kind of parties. First the guests sung Happy birthday and then the birthday hero opened the presents. The children were so exited, waiting for their present to be opened and to see what the others had bought. Then all the 11 children sat down around the table and had fun eating popcorn, chips, candies, cake, cinnamon buns and biscuits. After eating the children had almost an hour time to play together. Before heading home there was a treasure hunt and angling. First one had to find a gold coin (actually a chocolate wrapped in gold foil) and then they could fish with that coin. The coin was put on a bucket and raised over a blanket. And wow, there was a catch, some candies in a plastic bag. Just before leaving home the guests also got a balloon to take with to home.
The older the child gets usually the demand for parties grow. At some point they don’t want to have a friends’ party anymore. But when a child turns 18 and is of legal age, he/she usually wants to have a party with friends too. In Finland a 18 year old can buy wine, beer, cider and other mild alcoholic drinks from Alko (a monopoly in Finland , except for really mild alcohols, see http://www.alko.fi/en/alko-at-your-service/information-on-alko/vastuullinen-ja-palveleva-erikoisliike/) or at restaurant. So it is quite ordinary to go and buy a bottle of sparkling wine from Alko just when turning 18 and to serve it to friends at home.
As the year’s go by people celebrate their birthdays in various ways. Some throw a big party, others just when turning round years (40, 50, 60, 70 and so on) and some don’t celebrate their birthdays at all. The employer usually remembers the 50th and 60th birthday and those days are official, paid days off for the birthday hero, when on normal work day. One can place an add on the local newspaper telling everybody, that I’m celebrating my birthday on this day and you are welcome to come and congratulate at this time or to tell I shall be travelling on my birthday and wish that nobody remembers my birthday.
If having a party, then one must always have good servings. One can serve a dinner at home or in restaurant or afternoon coffee with all kinds of little sweet and salty things and then the cake. A birthday cake is a must. :) Again depending on the area in Finland the serving can be really plentiful or quite small. In my family the serving has always been plentiful and a saying has been passed on from mother to daughter quite many generations: a coffee table must have at least 7 different delicates (cake, biscuits, coffee cake, pie, pastry, birthday cake and so on).
And also adults can have theme party at their birthday. When turning 50 one can invite friends to some place and ask not to bring any gifts but the dress up like in the 1950s. :)
So what to take as a present, if invited? For a child you can always ask from parents. Usually if not a relative, the present may cost around 10-20 euros and be something you think is suitable for the child at that age. For teenagers you can f. ex. give a gift card to a local shop or to AppStore. The value should be 20-25 euros. For adults it depends of the age and what kind of party it will be. So read the invitation carefully. If the party is held in a restaurant, you can give a gift card and the value maybe around what you think the servings (dinner or just some snack) to you will cost for the host (so around probably around 50-100 euros). Or then you can buy a present: vase with flowers, crystal glasses, a memento, small painting, what ever you think is suitable for the birthday hero. Don’t buy anything too expensive. I personally think that it is really the idea that counts. It is not common to give money in Finland but the gift cards are frequently used. The Finns additionally tolerate quite much, so you cannot offend them easily.
Oh, and remember to dress up according to the occasion. To a child's birthday party you may dress quite relaxed. To an adult's party, read the invitation or ask the host. The Finns usually dress more informal than other nations. So even a dinner party in a restaurant held for somebody's 60th birthday usually require only a suit and tie you use in the office and not a tuxedo and for the women a short cocktail dress or office clothes with a little bit better jewelry. But the best way is to ask the proper dress code from the sender of the invitation.
Have a nice party!
