Christmas is a time of revealing many secrets. Raahe’s priest Eero Permi (1914-1990) reminisces in his book "Suomen helemi – peral of Finland" about a woman called Tikka-Briitta, who unexpectedly appeared at the rectory on Christmas Eve, in the late 1930’s.
The priest and his family were just about to sit down for dinner when the doorbell rang. Christmas Day used to be a strenuous workday for the only priest in the parish. In the early morning, there was a Finnish-language church service at the church. Then, there was a devotional event in Lapaluoto*, and on the way back, there were Christmas devotions at the municipal home and the hospital. But Christmas evening was dedicated to one's own family.
Who would be trying to visit the rectory on Christmas Eve? The pastor's wife went to see and a small, a lady dressed in an old-fashioned way entered through the door.
The priest didn't immediately recognize the visitor but then realized who she was. Tikka-Briitta had worked as a book keeper in Raahe’s shops. However, she had mixed up her roles at work, and she had been laid off. Now she lived in a small cottage on social assistance. The parish also helped her.
But why did she come to the rectory now? Did she come to express gratitude for the Christmas charity, as some did? Since the table was set, she was invited to join priest Permi’s family for the Christmas meal.
* Originally, Lapaluoto was a close-knit working-class community about 5 kilometres from Raahe, where the employees of the nearby Santaholma sawmill, Ruukki's lumberyard, the port lived."
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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