Sleigh ride through the Lappish forest

The sleigh glided across the glistening snowfield as it was pulled by a majestic reindeer. For their stop in Lapland, Will and Joy had chosen to try an excursion in the Finnish woods aboard a sled. And now they were sitting in a beautiful wooden sleigh under layers of colorful blankets as they enjoyed the magical landscape around them. The snow-laden fir trees passed silently and the sunlight filtered through their trunks. The air was cold and pungent and the peace was enveloping. At one point the forest gave way to a delightful village, with wooden houses, snow-covered roofs and smoking chimneys. Will and Joy saw an inn and decided to take a break, the cold got into their bones and a stop in front of a roaring fire with a cup of glogg, the typical spiced Christmas drink, was just what they were looking for. Inside the inn the atmosphere was welcoming. They were immediately served with a blackcurrant glogg and, as they savored that beautiful warmth, an elderly woman, with a typical wool hat with ear flaps, sat next to them. She was holding a child by the hand, also bundled up in a hat and scarf. The child wanted to hear the story of the lintukoto, he kept asking the woman, who finally agreed. Seeing Will's curious gaze, she explained that it was an ancient Lappish story. Years ago, when people thought that the earth was flat, the inhabitants of these lands could not understand where the birds were going, since in the autumn they flew up and disappeared on the horizon and then reappeared like magic in spring. Thus it was that a wise man, when asked, explained that they went to the lintukoto, the land of birds, a paradise on earth where the air smelled of jasmine and the sun warmed with its enveloping rays every plant and flower on which it posed. Here and there fountains of clear and crystalline water gushed out with a gurgling sound and the birds could fly free. Then when spring returned to earth, the birds could leave the lintukoto, which would wait for them until next autumn. Even today, the Finnish word lintukoto means happy place or paradise, concluded the woman. Here you see, Will thought, to find happiness as I want to do you have to travel, I've always said so! And with these words he took Joy with him and together they resumed their journey.

Let's sit down with Will in a Lappish inn and sip the non-alcoholic, blackcurrant glogg! Pour half a liter of orange juice and half a liter of black currant juice into a saucepan. Add 3 pieces of star anise, 2 cm of peeled fresh ginger, half a teaspoon of coriander, a stick of cinnamon, half a teaspoon of crushed cardamom and 10 cloves. Bring everything to a boil, remove from heat, cover with a lid and let it rest for about 20 minutes. Then filter and, if you wish, sweeten with honey and serve!