In Finland we celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. Eve & I joined her family at her mother Airi’s place.

Airi’s tree

Here’s Eve’s mother’s Christmas tree.

Eve & Tiina at Vartiokylänlahti

Eve, Tiina & I went for a brief walk beside Vartiokylänlahti, which Eve’s mother’s home overlooks. It was a lovely day.

Sun low over Vartiokylänlahti

In Finland in winter the sun never gets very high in the sky, and views like this of the sun through the trees are typical.

Janne, Eve & Tiina opening presents

Later in the day we opened our presents. This takes rather a long time…

Terhi, Kata & Antti

Occult cultist, a.k.a. me

Mina Harker, a.k.a. Eve

Finger food

Antti & Kata threw a late Halloween Christmas party – lots of great food and good company. Eve & I enjoyed dressing up in our fancy dress costumes.

Yesterday I cooked this year’s Christmas puddings – a little later than I’d intended, but they should still be fine by Christmas.

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Christmas pudding mix

Here are all the ingredients mixed together; they are: sultanas, currants, raisins, mixed peel, glacé cherries, chopped almonds, ground almonds, eggs, breadcrumbs, lemon peel & juice, orange peel & juice, mixed spice, cinnamon, brandy and stout. I use a recipe from Good Housekeeping Beginner’s Cookbook by Rosemary Wadey, which I’ve relied on since I bought it as a university student in 1984.

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Christmas puddings steaming

You have to steam the puddings for 7-8 hours. If, like me, you don’t have a proper steamer, you can suspend them with string in boiling water.

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Finished Christmas puddings

And here’s the result. Now just store it in a cool, dark place until Christmas…