The Declaration of Christmas Peace

The Declaration of Christmas Peace is a tradition which launches the Christmas celebrations. In Porvoo, the Christmas Peace is declared annually on Christmas Eve at 4 PM from the steps of the Old Town Hall. In addition to the Declaration of Christmas Peace, the event will include Christmas carols performed by a local brass band and a choir.

The declaration of Christmas Peace is part of an old tradition from the time of Swedish rule, when the practice was common in cities. The declaration is read out loud to remind people that Christmas peace has begun, to advise people to spend the festive period in harmony, to threaten offenders with harsh punishments, and to wish all a merry Christmas.

Among the old medieval towns, the tradition continues in Turku, Porvoo, Rauma, and Naantali. In Porvoo the current form of the declaration corresponds to the one read in Turku and was revised in the 19th century.