Christmas Market in the Senate Square

Helsinki Christmas Market - in Finnish Tuomaan Markkinat - is the oldest and largest event of its kind in Helsinki and takes place in the Senate Square. The square was designed by the German architect Carl Ludvig Engel (b. 1778 Berlin - d. 1840 Helsinki) in empire style. The Senate Square and its surroundings make up the oldest part of central Helsinki. Landmarks and famous buildings surrounding the square are the Helsinki Cathedral, the Government Palace, main building of the University of Helsinki and Sederholm House.

At the corner of the Senate Squeare there is a low blue house, the so called Sederholm House,
built in 1757. It is the oldest building in Helsinki city centre and was in its time 
the most impressive private home in Helsinki.

In the square there is the statue of  Emperor Alexander II of Russia from 1894

by the sculptor Walter Runeberg. He was a good emperor to us, the Grand Duchy of Finland.

During the Russification of Finland from 1899 onwards, the statue became a symbol 

of quiet resistance, with people protesting against the decrees of Nicholas II 

by leaving flowers at the foot of the statue of his grandfather, 

then known in Finland as "the good czar”.

I visited the market with my lady friend and we enjoyed the atmopsphere, gift stalls 

and beautiful Christmas lights and decorations. Diners indulged visitors with 

Christmas classics, al fresco dining & mulled wine. 

EDIT

I’ll add here a link to my book blog & to post Aquarelles from the City of Engel 

by Jukka Viikilä. The book won the highest literature prize in Finland in 2016.

It is a fictionary biography of Engel who became to Finland in 1816 and spent the rest 

of his life in Helsinki, a very modest, cold & small town then.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

#all seasons   #der natur donnerstag   #digitalart dienstag   #foto-tunes   #gartenglück 

#image-in-ing   #makrotex   #mosaic monday   #my corner of the world   

#saturday’s critters   # t in die neue woche   #the weekend roundup   #tuesday’s treasures
#uudet värikollaasit   #wandering camera   #willy-nilly   #watw