Tanja Stanaway performs Finnish music at the Finnish American Raja Ryhma Border Group’s Pikkujoulu “Little Christmas” gathering.

IRON MOUNTAIN — The Finnish American Raja Ryhma Border Group began its anticipation of the Christmas season with its annual Pikkujoulu gathering in the Antoine Room at Recreation Lanes in Iron Mountain on Saturday, Dec. 7.

A meet-and-greet time started at noon, with Zollner’s Catering serving a delicious buffet meal at 1 p.m.

During the afternoon, these local Finns celebrated Pikkujoulu, which translated is “Little Christmas,” a custom observed in Finland. It developed in the 1920s as a pre-Christmas event to brighten the long Finnish nights and get people into a holiday mood.

This year, Pikkujoulu featured Finnish music by Tanja Stanaway from Ishpeming and a reading of the story, “Christmas in Moomin Valley” by member Doug Karttunen. Melanie Olson shared a display of the many Moomin items and books she has collected in recent years. The Raja Ryhma members enjoy following Finnish traditions and have had an annual Pikkujoulu for many years.

The next event will be a celebration of St. Urho’s Day, set for March 15 at the Antoine Room at Recreation Lanes. Please save the date.

Meanwhile, as the Finns would say, “Hauskaa Joulua” — “Merry Christmas.”