Every Christmas Eve at noon, Finland pauses as the Declaration of Christmas Peace is read in Turku—a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages and still deeply felt today.

In this episode of Helsinki Calling, I reflect on why this moment matters so much to Finns, and share a personal memory from my student years in the USA, when getting back to Helsinki by December 24th meant planning flights carefully—or rerouting via Stockholm and crossing the Baltic Sea by ship.

This is a conversation about tradition, belonging, and the quiet importance of being present.
Wishing you a peaceful Christmas, wherever you are listening from.

🎄✨ Sam-Erik