IRON MOUNTAIN — The Iron Mountain area Finnish American Raja Ryhma Border Group invites the community to the annual Pikkujoulu gathering on Saturday, at Recreation Lanes Antoine Room in Iron Mountain.

A meet and greet time starts at noon, with a catered meal served by Zollner’s at 1 p.m.

Pikkujoulu — translated “Little Christmas” — is a custom in Finland, which developed as a pre-Christmas event to brighten the long Finnish winter nights and to get people into a holiday mood.

The Raja Ryhma Border Group enjoys following Finnish traditions and has had an annual Pikkujoulu for many years.

Music by Majority Finn, a musical family from Hancock, will play a variety of Christmas music and might even include a group sing-a-long.

They were featured at the 2025 Finn Fest in August in Duluth, Minn., has performed at Finn Fun Day in Negaunee, and recently completed a tour in western states.

Kelli Ellis, an art teacher at the Florence County School District, will give a presentation on the tradition of the Finnish Himmeli. Ellis will teach the group how to make these delicate sculptures, usually made of paper straws.

Everyone is welcome. Cost for is $25 per person and $10 for children age 10 or younger.

For more information, call Karen Wertanen at 715-528-4744.