It always starts with a huge stress a week before the big C. Streets are full of people with this crazy glaze in their eyes and more bags on their shoulders than one person should be able to handle. However, few days before Christmas you can start to sense the easiness coming down on people. Holiday from work is only few days away. Good food, family, presents, nice music and warm atmosphere. That sure is something to wait for.

Many people pack their belongings and turn their cars towards their summer cottages. Two thirds of all Finnish summer cottages are actually all-year-round houses. Most of them need to be pre-heated a few days earlier but a neighbour or a relative can usually master that.

Christmas time at the summer cottage (in Finnish: mökki) is usually magical. You escape the dark, wet city streets and arrive on the iconic view, ripped off straight of a poster. White snow, bright northern lights, silence and the spirit of Christmas. What more could you wish for.

Many things complement the staying at the summer cottage over Christmas. Visiting Rautia, you will actually find many useful things for making your cottage all-year-round. I bought a bunch of

heaters, a decorative fireplace and basically all the equipment I need to keep the snow and the porch separated. I have also a sauna by the lake and I need to make some serious holes in the ice in order to get some water - I got that equipment from Rautia as well.

When the night falls and you have really unpacked, cooked and gift wrapped everything - the feeling is magical. Lighting up a real fireplace and putting the decorative for the mood lighting, brings about the essence of Christmas. The smell of ham, cinnamon and chocolate. Ice, white snow and quiet. You really do find all the ingredients for a perfect Christmas getaway from summer cottage.

When the family arrives it usually doesn’t take more than a couple of hours for them to feel relaxed and at home. It really is the best part of a summer cottage that every guest feels truly like at home if you just put a bit of effort into it.