The annual Finnish Christmas Bazaar once again kicked off the holiday season Finnish style with a record setting number of attendees filling the Unitarian Universalist Church in Bethesda, Md. this past Saturday.

The Finnish Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Ritva Kokku-Ronde, and her husband visited the Bazaar tables, and the volunteers and attendees, for some time after cutting the ribbon to open the Bazaar.  They shopped and enjoyed lunch in the cafe. The Bazaar was attended by more people than ever (tho I don’t have the official count.)  

The Grand Raffle prize, for the first year in about 5 years (a sign of the improving economy?) was a Finnair-donated round-trip for 2 from NY to Helsinki, and Hotel Helka in Helsinki added a weekend for 2 in a deluxe suite.  The prize was won by an entry from Virginia Beach.  

The Finnair tickets surely sold more grand raffle tickets than usual, but as always, the Finnish baked goods were in high demand.   We had baked extra coffee bread and Karelian pastries and ordered extra rye bread delivered fresh from Nordic Breads in New York (Long Island City) so we were ready and did not run out.  The reindeer jerky all went, though!  

The silent auction and the vendors of Scandinavian glass, art, books and gifts all were pleased with the brisk pace and the Cafe was a major draw as always.  Another successful year and the likelihood of at least $15,000 in charitable giving as a result.

http://finnspark.wildapricot.org/www.finnish-chirstmas-bazaar.org

Photos courtesy Finnish Christmas Bazaar