1
Three years ago, I received a Christmas postcard.
“Merry Christmas from the home of Santa. We should meet here soon”
A warm message was written on the back. It was from my friends Meimei and Kangkang, who had just settled in their new home in Finland.
They had visited Santa’s village and sent the card as a little piece of magic from the north. For someone with a childlike belief in Santa’s fairy tale, the postcard felt like an invitation to a wonderland, where Santa would climb into the chimney and fill jolly surprises into your stockings.
My fascination with Finland goes way back. I remember the first time I stepped into Marimekko, in a quiet corner of Harajuku, Tokyo. It really felt like it was in a dream, where there was a world of vibrant flower patterns and bold designs. It reminded me of Akira San, who is the brain behind a Japanese brand I adore, Mina Perhonen. As it turns out, Akira San’s designs are rooted in his childhood trips to Finland, and the brand is named after the Finnish phrase “I am a butterfly”, a tribute to the forests, birds, and natural beauty that shaped his creative journey and love for Finland.
Peeking through this kaleidoscope of Finnish wonder created by its admirers, my curiosity only grew – and the more I learned, the more I longed to see the serene forests, and visions that once lived in my imagination.
2
A delightful surprise awaited me as I boarded my connecting flight in Doha: the plane’s fuselage was painted with Marimekko’s iconic floral patterns. “Welcome aboard, and enjoy your trip to Finland,” the flight attendant greeted me with a smile. A small Marimekko bag lay on my seat – what a charming gesture, even before I touched the country’s soil.
Meimei and Kangkang had arranged everything for me. “You’ve just arrived in the perfect timing,” as we boarded the VR train to Savonlinna. “Tomorrow is the summer’s end party on an island in Lake Saimaa. Bonfires, buffet, the Finns – it’s as authentic as it gets.”
At the pier, excitement poured through us as we got on a small ferry . The vastness of Lake Saimaa presented the cinematic movie in front of us with endless horizons. I doubted even the best filmmaker could capture a fraction of what’s in front of me. The air turned so crisp, and Meimei interrupted my reverie: “Do you need a blanket?”
On my way to grab the blanket, I noticed telescopes on a shelf. “May I try one?” I asked a clerk. “Of course! If you are lucky, you might even spot a seal.”
“A seal? In a lake?” I wasn’t sure if I heard the clerk right. Then she explained that these rare Saimaa seals had been isolated since the Ice Age, and now calling this lake their home.
I raised my telescope and tried my luck. The sky was overcast, and the lake’s surface seemed to breathe heavily, moving quickly, interrupted by the scattered islands floating above. Layers of trees stretched toward the sky, competing for space.
“Look! There’s a double rainbow!” I called my friends. Only then did we notice the light drizzle.
None of us wanted to leave the deck, even as the winds got stronger and the sun set lower. At the horizon, lights began to rise, dancing. “Are those stars?” I asked. It only, when we were approaching to the island, turned out to be candles lining the pier, leading us to the resort where the summer end party would be held.
“Tell me I am not in the dream,” I breathed in awe. The sun had now completely gone, leaving the lake’s surface steaming from the flickering flames of candles. Melodies drifted through the air, and for a moment, I felt like I was in The Phantom of the Opera.
Dinner was served in true Finnish style, savoring the mashed potatoes and deer meat, toasting with my friends to celebrate this journey. Before long, a group of young aged performers came onto the stage in the center. They started to play live music. The atmosphere got merrier and lighter.
“Let’s dance!” Someone shouted. The area transformed into a dance floor. People gathered and started dancing, and I was surprised by the energy. “Wow! I didn’t know that Finns were so into heavy metal!” It was such a contrast to the tranquil vibe we had experienced during our ferry ride.
“Look at the senior couple,” Kangkang said, leading my eyes to the dance floor. “I wouldn’t believe that they are not professional dancers.”
“Oh yes, did you know that Finland has more metal bands per capita than any other country in the world?” Kangkang added.
“Let’s take a break and go see the bonfire,” my friend proposed. As I stepped outside, I suddenly realized that my sweatshirt was completely soaked from the energetic dancing floor. The bonfire, it was a lot bigger than I anticipated, reminding me of the fire festivals that I had seen in photos. The cracking sound of burning wood was amplified by the quiet space surrounding us, and sparks jumped into the air like fireworks before fading into the dark sky.
“Don’t you think fire has the magic and power? I will never get tired of staring at it!” Meimei said, standing by me.
I lost my thoughts. My brain was completely empty. The world around me seemed to be freezed by the crispy air, except for the fires, dancing, roaring, jumping. I raised my head following the rising sparks, blinked several times to adjust my vision, and surprisingly noticed that there was a galaxy overhead. “Oh my god! This can’t be real!” The stars were so vivid that they seemed to blend with the rising sparks from the bonfire.
“Now I understand why people say the night is so young. Do not just go to bed yet!”
3
My sweet dream was interrupted by Meimei and Kangkang’s dog, Jarmy. After running laps in their yard, which was the same size as a basketball court and filled with the vegetables they grow, Jamry patrolled back indoors to get attention, wagging his tail.
“Good morning, happy dog.” I smiled, greeting him.
Meimei and Kangkang were already dressed and sipping coffee at the table. “We are going to forage mushrooms today. And dinner tonight – will be my signature mushroom pies.”
We took off, winding through a maze of trees until we reached a small, open field. There were no signs and the path narrowed, leading us deep into the forest. “Here we go,” Meimei said. “Did you know that every Finn has a secret spot for mushroom foraging, and they’ll never tell anyone.” We continued walking, and the soft bedding on the trail felt like walking on cotton.
“Look at the red berries in the bogs. Those are some cranberries. They can only habitat in this special environment. We like to pick them and freeze them to make jams. ”
I bent down, discovering the lovely red berries scattering in the bogs, playing hide and seek with me. I picked them to fill my basket. It wasn’t until I proudly showed my harvest to my friends that I realized we had ventured deep into the forest. The trail had disappeared, replaced by a lush carpet of green moss.
My excitement over the cranberries quickly faded into awe as I marveled at the breathtaking beauty around me. “I must still be in my sweet dreams, and I didn’t get interrupted by Jarmy.” I thought to myself.
“Look at the white moss over there. It’s called Reindeer Moss.” Meimei’s calling broke the stillness in the air. “Try to avoid walking on it. Because reindeers depend on them.”
“Can we see reindeers in the forest?” I can’t imagine what more surprises I can take in.
“Hey, come over here! Here’s our Mushroom 101,” Meimei yelled. “This is Cantharellus cibarius. I call it yellow pipe mushroom because of the pipes in its stems.” There’s no better way to learn about mushrooms than immersing myself directly in a mushroom field. We then scattered again to find more of the special mushroom.
“I found one! Look!” I raised my arms in triumph, showing them what I’ve got.
As we continued to forage, I realized that the three of us were having an unspoken competition, which made the whole experience more fun and exciting.
“Don’t wander too far though,” Meimei warned. “There’s no cellphone signal here, so let’s stick together as a group.” I also noticed that there were decaying trunks and fallen branches, which made the perfect environment for mushrooms to grow. My basket was then filled with yellow pipe mushrooms.
“There are about 8,000 types of mushrooms in the forests of Finland. Can you believe that? But we only eat certain ones, and we leave the rest for the animals. We share the same forest.”
Mushroom foraging was addictive, and soon it was time to head back before the sky turned dark. Meimei led us through the pines and back to the cranberry trail. As I was stepping on cotton soil, I looked back at the woods, my heart was filled with gratitude for being shown such a majestic part of nature, guided by my friends who share its wonders with me.
4
Jarmy, who is so eager for human company, is always darting between us, begging to play.
“Can we take Jarmy to the forest?” I asked.
“He’d love it so much.” Kangkang laughed. “He is always ready for an adventure. Why don’t we have a BBQ in the forest and bring Jarmy along?”
Meimei drove us into the forest, and as soon as the car stopped, Jarmy leapt out immediately, running toward a shack in the forest. Even the dogs in Finland seemed to possess practical outdoor skills.
“We come here often for BBQs, so Jarmy knows this place the best.” Meimei explained as we were following Jarmy’s trail. “His favourite thing to do is to dash down the hill, to the lake, and jump in for a swim.”
“I can‘t believe there’s a BBQ shack in the middle of the forest.” I was looking at the wooden structure surrounded by the pines and birches.
“So are we chopping the wood ourselves?”I was curious, gripping an axe with curiosity. With a very firm swing, I brought it down on a log. Chopping wood in the heart of a Finnish forest – definitely felt like a true Finn.
The BBQ shack was simple yet well designed. Three walls, and the front is open to see the panoramic view of the lake below. As we lit the fire, the aroma of birchwood smoke filled the air. Real smoked sausages were on the way!
“The water in the lake is clear enough. You can drink it.” Meimei said, noticing me watching Jarmy playing along the edge of the lake.
“I can’t believe how peaceful and refreshing this is,” I said. “I’ve seen commercials about outdoor living, but I only understand the charm now, seeing it right in front of me, and living it.”
Food was ready. Meimei, the fire bender, had prepared everything to perfection. We ate, toasted to our time together, and admired the beauty of nature around us.
The forests had a great healing power. I felt deeply connected to the trees, the moss, the lake, and the fresh air. There was a small sign on the shack’s pillar that caught my eye. It explained that the facility was part of a program promoting mental health through outdoor activities. The last line read:
“Nature is calling, and we hear it.”
I hear it.
5
“Would you like to try the sauna before dinner?” Meimei suggested, offering yet another glimpse into what it’s like to be a Finn. “There’s a sauna in our basement.”
Inside the wooden room, I poured some water over the steaming rocks, releasing a wave of hot air that immediately blurred the room. I closed my eyes, letting the images of Finland flood my mind – the forests, lakes, and skies.
As I exhaled, I opened my eyes. A small window behind me framed a view of Lake Saimaa. The sun was setting, painting the lake’s with a soft pink glow. I stared in awe, questioning reality.
Was this a dream?
If so, I thought, I never want to wake up.
6
I still feel the echoes of Finland’s authentic charm even after returning home. As autumn settles in and the chilling air hints at winter, I am reminded of those magical days. But with the changing season, Christmas is also just around the corner.
For this year, my colleague Forest suggested the theme Kaleidoscopic Love, a celebration of diverse cultural connections.
“I think there’s a reason I made that trip to Finland,” I told Forest. “For years, I only heard about Finland and saw the country through others’ eyes, like looking through a kaleidoscope. But actually being there, I realized that words aren’t enough to capture its true greatness.” Feeling inspired, I added, “I love this theme, and I hope that we can create a kaleidoscope of wonder for our customers this year, too.”
Our talented designer Nicole is back, bringing her vision of a vibrant kaleidoscopic scene that captures our collective enthusiasm for cultural connections.
This festive season, we invite you to step into the wonder we’ve created – look through the kaleidoscope and discover the magic we’ve created just for you.