{"id":5705,"date":"2015-12-24T10:41:02","date_gmt":"2015-12-24T08:41:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.magdalenabiela.com\/?p=5705"},"modified":"2015-12-24T10:42:22","modified_gmt":"2015-12-24T08:42:22","slug":"joulurauhan-the-proclamation-of-christmas-peace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.magdalenabiela.com\/?p=5705","title":{"rendered":"Joulurauhan julistus\/ The Proclamation of Christmas peace"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Joulurauhan julistus \/ The proclamation of Christmas peace<\/p>\n

For sure everywhere in this world people are wishing for peace, for kindness, for good will especially in Christmas time. But the only country I know which really preserved the tradition of \u201cproclaiming the Christmas peace” publically in Christmas Eve, is Finland.
\nFinnish people have a deep and true respect for Christmas.
\nSince I’ve been living here, in this northern space, I came to the understanding that there are a few things which entered deeply my heart and have been keeping me believe in the miracle of mankind on Earth.
\nOne of these wonderful things is “Joulurauhan julistus”, “The proclamation of Christmas peace” which happens every year, on 24th of December, 12.00 sharp, in the city of Turku.
\nThe history of this tradition goes back in time, to the year 1200, when it happened for the first time. The version of then has been improved by the year 1886, when the punishment for breaking the Christmas peace became stronger.
\nOn Christmas Eve, the house is clean, the Christmas Tree is filled with candles and the star is shining, and families gather around the table for the traditional Christmas meal. But, at 12.00 the TV is on and every family, all over Finland, becomes part of the crowd waiting in Turku, in front of the Brinkkala Mansion balcony, for the Proclamation of Christmas peace.
\nAfter that, Christmas time officially starts, people are celebrating in their ways, knowing that nobody is allowed to harm anybody all these sacred days.
\nPrior to 1886, Christmas peace was proclaimed from the doors and windows of the town hall, as the old saying went. The wooden balcony became known as the Christmas peace balcony and Finns living in Turku are faithful to their tradition.
\nEvery year, at 12.00 , on Christmas Eve, Turku becomes the\u00a0 ” Christmas city” for all Finnish people.
\nAfter the chimes of Turku cathedral\u2019s noon-day bell rang out across the square and following a ceremonial fanfare, one man formally reads the Declaration of peace from the balcony of Brinkkala House in Finnish and Swedish.<\/p>\n

“Huomenna, jos Jumala suo,
\non meid\u00e4n Herramme ja Vapahtajamme armorikas syntym\u00e4juhla;
\nja julistetaan siis t\u00e4ten yleinen joulurauha kehoittamalla
\nkaikkia t\u00e4t\u00e4 juhlaa asiaankuuluvalla hartaudella viett\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n
\nsek\u00e4 muutoin hiljaisesti ja rauhallisesti k\u00e4ytt\u00e4ytym\u00e4\u00e4n,
\nsill\u00e4 se, joka t\u00e4m\u00e4n rauhan rikkoo ja joulujuhlaa jollakin
\nlaittomalla taikka sopimattomalla k\u00e4yt\u00f6ksell\u00e4 h\u00e4iritsee,
\non raskauttavien asianhaarain vallitessa syyp\u00e4\u00e4 siihen
\nrangaistukseen, jonka laki ja asetukset kustakin rikoksesta
\nja rikkomuksesta erikseen s\u00e4\u00e4t\u00e4v\u00e4t. Lopuksi toivotetaan kaupungin
\nkaikille asukkaille riemullista joulujuhlaa.”<\/p>\n

“I morgon, vill Gud,
\ninfaller v\u00e5r Herres och Fr\u00e4lsares n\u00e5derika f\u00f6delsefest;
\noch varder f\u00f6rty h\u00e4rigenom en allm\u00e4n julfred kungjord och p\u00e5bjuden,
\nmed \u00e5tvarning till envar att denna h\u00f6gtid med tillb\u00f6rlig andakt fira,
\noch i \u00f6vrigt iakttaga ett stilla och fridsamt uppf\u00f6rande,
\nemedan den, som h\u00e4remot bryter samt julh\u00f6gtiden
\ngenom n\u00e5got olagligt eller otillb\u00f6rligt f\u00f6rfarande osk\u00e4rar,
\ng\u00f6r sig under f\u00f6rsv\u00e5rande omst\u00e4ndigheter f\u00f6rfallen till det straff,
\nlag och f\u00f6rfattningar f\u00f6r varje brott och \u00f6vertr\u00e4delse s\u00e4rskilt p\u00e5bjuda.
\nSlutligen till\u00f6nskas stadens samtliga inv\u00e5nare en fr\u00f6jdefull julhelg.”<\/p>\n

The Declaration of Christmas Peace in Turku Christmas City of Finland
\n“Tomorrow, God willing,
\nis the graceful celebration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour; and thus is declared a peaceful Christmas time to all, by advising devotion and to behave otherwise quietly and peacefully, because he who breaks this peace and violates the peace of Christmas by any illegal or improper behaviour shall under aggravating circumstances be guilty and punished according to what the law and statutes prescribe for each and every offence separately.”<\/p>\n

Kiitos Suomi!
\nThank you, Finland, for keeping alive one place for peace, for goodness, for Santa Claus, for all people !
\nHyv\u00e4\u00e4\u00a0 ja rauhallista Joulua, Suomi! Merry Christmas to all!<\/p>\n

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Maria Magdalena Biela<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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