The pews and outer aisles of St. John's Lutheran Church, which hosts this annual fair, were given over to displays of Finnish gifts, CDs, books, and sweets, largely of the liquorice or chocolate variety.
In the back room, "Café Porridge Pot" (which also appears just once each year) offered the typical open-faced sandwiches; coffee, tea, and gløgg; and riisipuuro (shown above; $5) a very creamy rice porridge sweetened by a topping of fruit compote and garnished (by me) with blanched almonds. Later I learned that it's traditional at Finnish family gatherings to add one almond to the pot; whoever gets the almond has lots of luck ahead.
Also shown below: assorted open-faced sandwiches ($4 to $7); Fazer brand Suffeli (21 g.; $1), a wafer candy filled with toffee and a little marshmallow.
Finnish Christmas Fair
St. John's Lutheran Church, 81 Christopher St. (Bleecker St.-Seventh Ave.)
Late November
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