joulun

Joulun is the genitive form of the Finnish noun joulu, which means Christmas. It is used to indicate possession or association with Christmas, for example in phrases like joulun odotus (the anticipation of Christmas) or joulun juhla (the Christmas celebration).

In Finnish, nouns decline for case. The genitive singular form of joulu is joulun, while the genitive plural is joulujen. The word also appears in compounds and phrases such as joulunaika or joulun valmistelut. The partitive form is joulua, as in haluan joulua aikaa, and other cases follow regular Finnish declension patterns.

Common usages and expressions include joulun aikaan (the Christmas period), joulun pyhät (the Christmas holidays), and joululahjat (Christmas presents). The term is central to everyday language in Finland during the holiday season and appears in media, advertising, and cultural discussions about Christmas.

Culturally, joulun refers to the broader Christmas season rather than a single day. In Finland, Christmas is traditionally celebrated on Christmas Eve, with gatherings around the joulupöytä (the Christmas table) and events surrounding joulupukki (Santa Claus). Many customs, such as Christmas markets, lights, and gift-giving, are associated with the Christmas tradition and are described using the genitive joulun in various contexts.

Etymologically, joulu is the standard Finnish word for Christmas, with its genitive form joulun. The word is of native Finnic origin, with cognates in related Finnic languages, reflecting a long-standing cultural tradition of a winter holiday in the region.