Old Market Hall in Helsinki is expecting Christmas rush on Thursday and Friday

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The Old Market Hall in Helsinki’s South Harbour by the Market Square is attracting customers from all over Finland, and from even as far away as Central Europe.
      Vendor Matti Putilin says that this year the long week before Christmas Eve has evened out shopping over several days. However, the days before Christmas and other holidays are always very busy. The actual Christmas rush is expected for Thursday and Friday - the morning of Christmas Eve (the Market Hall is open until noon on Friday).
     
Helsinki’s Old Market Hall is widely known even in Central Europe, and it is not uncommon that European customers fly to Helsinki just for Christmas shopping. They come to buy salmon in particular. Hence, the quantity of slightly salted salmon (gravlax) sold is about 30 times more at Christmas than on regular weeks. Fresh fish comes from Norway every day.
      Moreover, customers are attracted by the selections of rare items that can be hard to come by in regular supermarkets. These items include wild boar and other game, as well as various pâtés made of hare, venison, or pheasant that are imported from Belgium and France.
     
Cheeses are sold at Paalanen’s stall in small and large packets. Some families come to Helsinki’s Old Market Hall from other parts of Finland to buy some cheese, salmon, and whitefish as well as other Christmas delicacies.
      Food specialties are even popular Christmas presents, including various types of mustard, jellies, chocolate truffles, and French nuts, says vendor Kirsti Karhumäki. One of her specialties is French marine salt (Fleur de sel), which is selling well despite its near-astronomical price.


Links:
  The Old Market Hall in Helsinki

Helsingin Sanomat