If your family celebrates Christmas on 7 January, Rovaniemi can be a lovely place to do it, but you need to plan around one fact: in Finland 6 January (Epiphany) is a public holiday, shops are mostly closed that day, and 7 January is an ordinary working day. For guests who keep the Julian calendar, the day before Christmas falls on the closed day. This guide shows how to arrange food, dates and a quiet family celebration in a self-catering apartment.

We are Joona and Alla, local hosts in Rovaniemi. We are not experts on any one tradition, and we do not want to pretend to be; we know the practical side of staying here. As far as we know, the Orthodox Church in Finland itself keeps Christmas on 25 December, but many families from other countries and traditions celebrate on 7 January, and a flexible apartment suits that. To check dates around 5–8 January, see the live calendar on Airbnb or Booking.com.

The calendar around 6 and 7 January 2027

In 2027, 6 January falls on a Wednesday and 7 January on a Thursday. Epiphany is a public holiday in Finland, so supermarkets and many other shops are closed or open short hours on the 6th. On the 7th normal opening hours apply. Check this against your shop’s published hours, since details can change. Our guide to the Finnish public holidays in 2027 and the post on the first week of January and Epiphany give more detail.

The practical consequence is simple: do your main shopping on 4 or 5 January. If you need fresh ingredients on the evening of the 6th, buy them the day before and keep them in the fridge.

Cooking a celebration meal in a rented kitchen

Whatever your tradition’s menu, a meal for a group needs equipment. The kitchen at Nine Pines has a dishwasher, an oven, a microwave, a coffee machine and a kettle, and a dining table that seats six. For a group of nine you will eat in two sittings or use the living-room sofas. We have an honest note about this in cooking for nine with one oven: plan dishes that can be prepared in advance and kept warm, and stagger oven use.

Bring any special ingredients with you if you cannot find them. Finnish supermarkets stock a wide range, and our posts on Finnish supermarkets and special diets may help you decide what to bring and what to buy.

Fasting, candles and quiet evenings

Some families keep a fast before the feast, and some light candles on the table. We can say only this: the apartment is a rental home, so follow the fire-safety advice in our candle and fairy-light guide. Quiet hours run from 22:00 to 07:00, and the building is a quiet family building, so a late-night celebration should be gentle after 22:00. Parties are not allowed, and the maximum is nine guests.

Visitors on the day

Many families want to invite friends or relatives living in Finland to the meal. Visitors are possible within the house rules; see visitors and guests in a holiday apartment and tell us in advance. The total number of people in the apartment overnight must not exceed nine.

Church services

We cannot give reliable service times, and we do not want to guess. If attending a service matters, ask the parish or church directly well before your trip, and note that opening hours and schedules around the holidays can differ from usual. Once you know the time, tell us about arrival and departure plans, and we can help with practical details such as taxis and the bus from the stop 150 m from the door.

Weather, daylight and getting around in early January

Early January is cold and dark, with a few hours of daylight and snow on the ground. The bus to the city centre takes about 15 minutes and continues to Santa Claus Village, but timetables are reduced on holidays, so check them. By car it is 8 minutes to the centre and 15 minutes to Santa Claus Village, SantaPark and the airport. We provide an ice scraper and snow brush, and there is one free parking space in the yard. Read the late-December guide for similar planning.

Why an apartment suits this kind of celebration

A hotel restaurant will serve its own menu on its own timetable; an apartment lets you cook your family’s food, set your own times and keep children close. The washer and tumble dryer take care of damp outdoor clothes, so snowsuits go in after dinner and are dry by morning. There is no sauna in the apartment, but the swimming hall in the centre has public saunas, and guests get 5 % off a private wood-heated sauna tour through our activities page. See the Nine Pines page for the layout.

A practical plan for the three days around 7 January

Arrive on 4 or 5 January if you can, so that the shopping is done before the holiday closes the shops. Spend the 6th at home or on a short walk near the apartment; the forest trails start a few minutes away. Cook on the 6th and 7th with food you already have, keep the evening of the 7th free for the meal itself, and leave the next day light. If anyone in the group is tired after a long journey, this slow rhythm suits them too. Tell us your plans and we will tell you honestly what is practical.

FAQ: celebrating Christmas on 7 January in Rovaniemi

Are shops open on 6 January in Finland?

Epiphany is a public holiday, so most shops are closed or have short hours. Shop on 4 or 5 January and confirm opening hours.

Are shops open on 7 January?

Normal weekday hours apply, but check your own shop’s published hours.

Can we cook a large meal for nine?

Yes, with planning. The dining table seats six, and there is one oven, so prepare dishes in advance.

Can we arrive late on the evening of 6 January?

Yes. Check-in is from 16:00, any time, also late at night, with a code lockbox. Our late arrival guide explains the steps.