Advent calendar takes you to Children’s Town
The popular Advent calendar tradition continues at the Helsinki City Museum. This year, the stories will take visitors to the Children’s Town in the Sederholm House near the Senate Square. The exciting story develops one day at a time and features twins Matilda and Matias who embark on an adventure into past Christmases in a labyrinthine old house: Christmas in Helsinki in the 16th century, a 1930s primary school and Grandma’s house in the 1970s. The stories are in Finnish and Swedish.
The script for the Advent calendar was written by Museum Educator Anna Finnilä and Researcher Jere Jäppinen. Harri Tarkka, the designer behind the exhibitions of the Children’s Town, illustrated the calendar.
The museum’s old Advent calendars from previous years are still available. The calendar for the Burgher’s House describes Christmas at a small wooden house in 19th century Kruununhaka, and the Hakasalmi Villa calendar tells of life in winter among the gentry in the times of Aurora Karamzin. The calendar for the Worker Housing Museum anticipates Christmas on the other side of the Pitkäsilta Bridge in 1930. The calendar for Christmas traditions in Helsinki is also available in English.
The Advent calendar for the Children’s Town can be purchased at the museum shop on Aleksanterinkatu 16 or at the Hakasalmi Villa at Mannerheimintie 13b (price EUR 8).
More information
Anna Finnilä, Museum Educator, tel. +358 (0)9 3103 6632 or anna.finnila@hel.fi.
Jere Jäppinen, Researcher, tel. +358 (0)9 3103 6505 or jere.jappinen@hel.fi.
To order a media copy of the calendar, contact Luka Kestola, Communications Assistant, at luka.kesto@hel.fi
