Kainuu region is bringing the traditional Finnish Christmas market concept of Kalevala Spirit Ltd. to Brussels. The company, based in Sotkamo in Kainuu region, has a long experience from German Christmas markets. The attractions of this concept include real fire, real Christmas trees, Finnish mulled wine, vendaces and blazed salmon. Of course, the real Finnish Santa Claus will also arrive on the Place de la Bourse on Saturday the 8th December.
The landmark of the Finnish market place is a micro-apartment building with a foot-print of one car parking place, representing know-how of Finnish ecological wood construction. This building, consisting three floors and its height exceeding 10 meters, was planned by architect Marko Casagrande, and built in Kuhmo in Kainuu region. In Brussels the house will be known as the House of Silence, offering its guests possibilities to slow down and enjoy some quiet moments among the bustle of the busy Christmas market, listening to the Finnish Nature. The visitors may also experience Finnish national parks or visit a chamber music concert with help of virtual reality (VR) glasses. At the street level of the house, information on Finland, for example the tourism opportunities, is available.
Hossa national park in Suomussalmi in northeastern part of Kainuu, as well as the other national parks in Finland, are in a central role during the whole event. The Land of National Parks project by a state-owned enterprise Metsähallitus will bring virtual experiences of Finnish nature and wilderness, on all the four seasons, both to the House of Silence and on the stage on the market place.
The national instrument of Finland, called Kantele, will be played in the mid-December by a group from Kainuu. Along the five weeks of Winter Wonders, other performers like dance group Äijät and magician-mentalist Henri Kemppainen, will perform. On the second weekend of December, the audience will even have the opportunity to learn Finnish tango. The events are festively closed by a chamber music concert, arranged in co-operation with Kuhmo festival, at the Brussels city hall on the Epiphany.
Movie productions that have been filmed in the Kainuu region are screened by four films (Time Out, Rendel, Unknown Soldier and Nature Symphony) and one television series (Magic of Lapland) during 19th –23rd December 2018 at the Palace.
The Finnish Christmas market section in Brussels is created in co-operation with Visit Finland. Kalevala Spirit Ltd. is responsible for the commercial actions, and the other part is coordinated by the Regional Council of Kainuu and supported by a project of the regional development company Kainuun Etu Ltd. Other co-operation partners include for example the Embassy of Finland in Brussels, Finnair ja Metsähallitus, Kainuu vocational college (KAO) and Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KAMK), as well as the tourism operators and Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival. Town of Kuhmo and municipality of Suomussalmi will also arrange thematic events at the House of Silence.
Additional Information:
Pentti Malinen, Region Mayor, +358 44 797 0197, pentti.malinen@kainuu.fi
Eeva Mäntymäki, Head of Communications, 044 797 4004, eeva.mantymaki@kainuu.fi
Tuomo Tahvanainen, Director, Kainuun Etu Ltd., +358 44 551 4585, tuomo.tahvainen@kainuunetu.fi
Akke Virtanen, Kalevala Spirit Oy, +358 40 540 7777, akke@kalevalaspirit.fi