This seems to be an old draft for whatever purpose – as I haven’t got time to write a new post on the madness of Finnish Christmas carols right now, this will have to do. P.S. I have no idea where the optimism of the last paragraph came from.
Did you ever wonder why the American Santa goes ”Ho! Ho! Ho!” but his Finnish colleague does not? Maybe he knows there is nothing to laugh about Christmas…
It is, indeed, a solemn affair. Most of the Finns’ favourite carols seem to be in minor key and some of the lyrics are downright depressing. Take one of the most popular songs, Varpunen jouluaamuna (”Sparrow on Christmas morning”). It tells about a little girl offering a seed to a poor hungry sparrow, which turns out to be her dead little brother visiting from heaven. A guaranteed weepie.
Well, in olden days life was hard. Traditional songs often remark on the bleakness and coldness of winter – perhaps that is why Finnish Christmas carols are mournful? Well, there is another bird in ”Sylvia’s Christmas Song,” singing in the warmth of Italian winter. Surely this bird must be happy? Er… no. It is sad, because it longs for Finnish Christmas. And then, after a long lament, it apparently dies. Oh dear.
Better avoid songs about birds. Finns do have more cheerful carols, such as a children’s song about sleighing to Christmas service and how nice it is. But it also says it’s five a.m. and the kids are dragged out of bed into the freezing winter weather. Fun? It does sound suspiciously like parental propaganda.
Okay, let’s try ”Hei tonttu-ukot” about happy, dancing Christmas elves. Now this one’s very upbeat! Up until the elves pause for a slower refrain: ”Life is but short/And sad and gloomy at that.” After which they sing and dance on merrily (although perhaps a tad more uncertainly). The elves are clearly bipolar, if you ask me!
In truth, though, the Finnish Christmas might be quiet but it isn’t depressing. A healthy dose of melancholy every now and then makes Finns happy, that is how we are built. Amongst good food and heaps of presents, world’s saddest Christmas carols give piquancy to the restful, happy celebration. And there are less depressing songs, too.
By the way, Finns are especially kind to birds at Christmas. Now you know why.
The Night Owl's Random 