Finnish Gifts: From Christmas Basket Ideas to Fabulous Design

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This holiday season, surprise your loved ones with unique Finnish gifts that they will absolutely adore!

I’ve rounded up 30 Finnish Christmas gift ideas available online to help you find thoughtful, practical and fun presents for everyone on your list.

From one-of-a-kind design gifts to Christmas baskets to stocking fillers and Secret Santa gifts, I’ve got you covered. Scroll on to find the perfect gift ideas from Finland!

Finnish Gifts for Christmas Baskets and Stockings

The Marimekko Notebook Collection includes three notebooks covered with different iconic colorful prints. Each notebook is super light and perfect to carry in a bag so that those unexpected brilliant ideas are captured immediately.

How about something from the Her Finland shop? I have designed The Finnish Connection collection for you! You can find T-shirts, sweaters, hoodies, mugs and much more. All products are made-to-oder to reduce waste.

All clothes are unisex and sizes range from S-2XL, with a variety of Nordic-inspired color options available.

Do you know someone who loves lists? You are going to see one big happy smile when you give them Marimekko’s vivid Sticky Note Booklet. Just watch as they get things done with the help of these energetic to do notes.

If you can’t tell by my first few gift suggestions, Marimekko is one of the most popular design brands in Finland. You can add this simple Finnish brand to your wardrobe with these Marimekko tote bag. The vibrant colors make for a fabulous gift to anyone.

A cute and small accessory to further show your Finland love is this Finnish flag pop-socket for your phone. Stick it on the back of your phone and have a little part of Finland with you always.

The perfect touch of Finland to add to your office or home is this calendar filled with vintage pictures dedicated to the Finnish culture. Mark your achievements, events, and more while traveling mentally to Finland.

The Fiskars Scissors may seem like a quirky Christmas present but they are so excellent in design and functionality that I promise, you’ll want to buy yourself a pair the minute you have tried them.

In fact, many Finns refuse to use any other scissors. I know it sounds weird to have a whole paragraph about scissors but trust me on this one. Have you ever heard anybody else talking so passionately about scissors? In this household, we have the classic orange ones, the nail scissors, and the blunt tip children’s scissors.

Have you heard of Moomin? Moomin characters are the Mickey Mouse of Finnish culture. What better way to add a hint of Finnish adoration to your home than with this Moomin jug.

Need more than just a few Moomin items around the house? Up your Moomin style with this Comfy Moomin T-shirt. This shirt also makes for a great conversation piece if you stumble across other Moomin lovers on the street.

If you want to represent Finland in an even more literal way with your apparel, this coffee & sisu t-shirt is for you. It makes for a cute and funny gift. Only people who appreciate Finnish culture will understand that these 2 things are at every Finn’s core.

Winter Necessities approved by a Finn

The best part of winter is playing in the snow! With these warm, waterproof mittens you can spend even more time outside taking in the fresh, winter air.

Beanies are a winter favorite as well and are such an easy gift to give. Whether it gets really cold where you live or you just need a trendy accessory for your favorite sweater, this warm and stylish beanie is the way to go.

Books That Make You Feel like a Finn

The Sisu Book by Joanna Nylund is a marvelous introduction to Finnish culture covering an astonishing amount of Finnishness from letting our babies nap outside in their prams even in freezing temperatures (guess where my ten-month-old daughter is right now!) to deep discussions like do you need to think positively in order to be able to tap into sisu.

This book is a gem, and I recommend it to anyone who’s interested in Finland.

Another book by Joanna Nylund to read is Silence. When you visit Finland, one thing that may stand out is the abundant presence of silence. Through this book of Nylund’s you will discover ways to harness the power of this silence.

Take a look into the quirks of the personalities you’ll find in Finland. With this book about the national characteristics of Finns, get ready to laugh and embrace what makes Finnish people so unique.

Courage, wellness, and happiness are three things you will uncover a new way of finding in Katja Pantzar’s The Finnish Way. Whether you love Finnish culture or just need a new inspiring, perspective on life, this easy-read is perfect for you.

What better way to feel like a Finn than to begin talking like a Finn? My Conversational Finnish for Beginners Course can be a great Christmas gift to request from someone (*hint hint*) or give to someone. You will dive into learning the basics on what conversations typically sound like in Finnish but not the average way most textbooks teach you.

Are you learning Finnish but would rather have physical materials to study? This Finnish language book is perfect for becoming more confident with your Finnish skills.

Do you know someone who has visited Finland but still just can’t get enough about learning all things travel, culture, and language? Make sure to gift them this Ultimate travel guide to all things Finland. Even when you’re done reading this book, it makes for a great coffee table decoration.

Deliciously Finnish Gifts

Take a sneak peek into any Finnish kitchen cupboard and I’m pretty sure you’ll find some Arabia Moomin Mugs.

It’s a fun present to give annually as there’s a new edition mug every year. For example, my dad collected these mugs already for our daughter. She got her first one at her christening party.

What would Christmas be without Fazer Chocolate? Or any day, to be honest. You bet these chocolate bars disappeared in two minutes after I took the picture.

Here are three of our favorites: The classic blue wrapped original (Note, that it’s so iconic that Fazer sometimes plays with its case. At the moment, the wrapper says “A small piece of love” = Pieni pala rakkautta).

Geisha and the strawberry flavored milk chocolate are flavors that everybody loves! The older kids in this household absolutely adore the strawberry chocolate block.

Another sweet treat you may want to gift as a taste of Finland is Dumle. This magical toffee and chocolate candy is a fan-favorite. If you buy these for a friend, you may be able to steal a couple of pieces for yourself too.

Salty Licorice is a gift like no other and definitely 100% Finnish! You really want to be there, when they taste it, maybe with a camera. A surprise gift that will never be forgotten.

Now that you know of the infamous salty, black licorice of Finland, what about the popular, colorful, and sweet licorice, Remix? This sweet and sour candy by Fazer reminds me of Sour Patch Kids and is gone before you know it.

We’ve talked about sweets, but now let’s talk about what pairs perfectly with sweets: coffee. You can now have the coffee brand that all Finns love in your own home. Drink this perfectly roasted coffee with your loved ones and get those Finnish vibes going.

Lovely Finnish Cosmetic Gifts

Skincare products are a great gift to give, if I do say so myself. With Lumene’s Lähde face cream, you will have lasting moisture even in the winter. Did I mention Lumene is a cruelty-free skincare line?

Lumene is a Finnish cosmetics company that makes wonderful products. Every Finn knows Lumene.

Their products include super ingredients from Finnish nature, such as cloudberry, bilberry, pine bark, and spruce knot extract. Doesn’t it sound like you could almost eat their products!?

My favorites from Lumene are theie Valo (Light) and Sisu (a Finnish power word meaning courage and determination)  series.

When I’m buying a Christmas present, I always go for something pampering and luxurious, like hydrating mists, masks, and serums. I love the Valo Glow Refresh Hydrating Mist because you can use it before cream and over makeup. When I look tired it’s the perfect pick-me-up.

Here are the above mentioned Finnish gift ideas. Thoughtful Christmas presents don’t need to cost a fortune. All of these gifts pictured below are under $20!

Finnish Design Glassware

We Finns are accustomed to design glass and quality glassware, thanks to companies like Iittala, Arabia, Muurla, Nuutajärvi, Riihimäki Glass and the awe-inspiring glass artists, like Alvar Aalto, Tapio Wirkkala, and Oiva Toikka.

The elegantly simple Iittala Kivi Votive is another great idea to give as annual presents. In many homes, there are several of them to bring light and charm into the room. At the moment, I use them with led tea light candles as our home is a kids zone.

Finally, a couple of fantastic ideas for wow presents.

To me, the Ultima Thule Glasses are the most beautiful glasses in the world. I’ve been admiring them since I was a small kid because these glasses were my grandparents’ and back in the day, they were only used for celebrations, never on an ordinary dinner or lunch.

Ultima Thule is designed by Tapio Wirkkala, who is a legendary design glass artist. Inspired by the melting ice, these glasses incorporate practicality and beauty in a breathtaking way.

The one-of-a-kind Aalto vase is the symbol of Finnish design. Alvar Aalto created it, inspired by the dress of a Sami woman. For me, it reminds me of the northern lights.

Last summer, I watched how Aalto vases were handmade in Iittala Glass factory. Seeing the most talented glassblowers in work had been on my bucket list for years and I’m so glad I got to see the process. Visit at the factory is free and a great day trip destination from Helsinki.

I inherited my white Aalto vase from my grand-aunt and love to make flower arrangements in it. For the Christmas table, I love combining roses, carnations and spruce branches. A bunch of tulips looks also wonderful in the Aalto vase.

The Under $20 Gift List

1. Marimekko Notebook Collection
2. Marimekko Pencil Package
3. Marimekko Sticky Note Booklet
4. Marimekko Tote Bag
5. Finnish Culture Calendar
6. Finnish Flag Popsocket
7. Moomin Jug
8. Moomin T-shirt
9. Sisu by Joanna Nylund
10. Silence by Joanna Nylund
11. The Xenophobe’s Guide to Finns
12. The Finnish Way by Katja Pantzar
13. Lonely Planet Finland Travel Guide
14. Finnish Fazer Chocolate
15. Finnish Salmiakki Licorice
16. Finnish Dumle Toffee & Chocolate
17. Finnish Sweet & Sour Candies

Did you find some Christmas gift inspiration? What’s on your list this Christmas? Let me know in the comments! 

Looking for more information about Finnish Christmas and lifestyle? Check out some of my other posts: 

• Helsinki during Holiday Season – 50 Wonderful Ideas to Do in Winter Helsinki
• 10 Unique Ways to Say “Merry Christmas” in Finnish
• Christmas Design Tips in a Modern Finnish Log Home
• What Really Happens at Finnish Homes on Christmas
• Winter Packing Guide for Finland