Tony D'Onofrio
Chi va piano, va sano, e va lontano
Continuing our global virtual tour to learn something new, our next stop is Helsinki, Finland. The words opening this post are Italian and they mean “those who go slow, are healthier, and will go the distance.”
Helsinki is the most northerly of all the continental European capitals. The location was established as a trading town by King Gustav I of Sweden in 1550 and today is the largest city in Finland.
Known as the ‘Daughter of the Baltic’, Helsinki is the world’s coldest capital with a yearly average temperature not exceed 0°C (32°F).
The local government heats the granite slabs from underground during the winter, making the sidewalks in the center of the city completely snow-free. For about six weeks in the year, you also won’t see the sun because it is so close to the arctic.
Helsinki is an unusual capital as not only does it include the mainland located on the Gulf of Finland, but also includes 300 islands that are connected by many bridges. Take an 8 hour and half train ride North from Helsinki and you will meet the real ‘Santa Clause’.
The picture in this post is from one of favorite casual restaurants in Europe that I initially discovered in Zurich Switzerland called ‘VAPIANO’. Literally it means ‘go-slowly’, and they have locations in 25 countries, including Finland.
Favorite memories of Helsinki and Finland include multiple meetings with major retailers and visiting their stores, the great food, the warm hospitality of the locals, and those very warn ‘sauna’ experiences during the cold winter visits.
Paraphrasing those Italian words opening this post, “slow and steady will always win the life race.” Live your dreams and remember it is indeed a small world after all.
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It is a Small World
“Every gift is a little piece of Santa.” – LovetoKnow.com
Continuing our journey to learn something new, in the spirit of the holiday season, we travel to Cologne Germany for fun facts about Santa Claus. His real name is Saint Nicholas, a bishop in the 4th century who lived in what is now Turkey. Saint Nicholas was known for his generosity and kindness, and legends say he performed miracles for the poor and unhappy.
The name Santa Claus comes from the Dutch nickname Sinter Klaas, which is short for Sint Nikolaas, the Dutch name for Saint Nicholas. The Dutch brought the name to America in the 17th century, where it was anglicized to Santa Claus.
No, Coca Cola did not invent the image of Santa Claus. The modern image of Santa Claus is largely due to the work of German-born artist Tom Nast. Nast's cartoon of Santa Claus arriving at a Union Army camp by sleigh during the Civil War helped establish the modern image of Santa.
If you write to Santa in the United States, all letters to Santa Claus, Indiana. Closer to the North Pole, there is an even more popular Santa Claus village in Finland which since 1985 has received over 18 million letters from 199 countries. You can mail your Santa Claus letters to:
Santa Claus’ Main Post office
Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi
Tähtikuja 1
96930 Arctic Circle
Finland
This picture which was taken at the Christmas Market in Cologne Germany is a reminder of why this is my favorite time of the year. The colors, the lights, the smiles, the anticipation in the eyes of every child, the musical tidings, family gatherings, the end of another year, and the possibilities of the new year.
If you immerse yourself in the positive messages of the holiday season, HOPE for a brighter tomorrow naturally emerges, and that my friends and family, is the true spirit of the holiday season. You see every gift is indeed a little bit of Santa.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
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