Creating Holiday memories: Designer Anna Pirkola on family, food, and festive traditions

A holiday table with candles and cakes — The Holiday season in Anna Pirkola’s family is all about togetherness, familiar vegetarian dishes, and traditions– including a unique way of exchanging gifts.

How do you create a meaningful Holiday season? For stylist and designer Anna Pirkola, it’s about cherished traditions, thoughtful gifts, and time with loved ones. From a unique gift exchange ritual to family recipes and shared laughter, Pirkola shares the moments that make each Holiday memorable – whether spent at home or hosting friends from around the world.

Hi Anna! How’s your end of year looking?
“Hi! The end of the year is always such a busy time, and it feels like so many projects are wrapping up. Besides work, the kids have shows through their hobbies, and we all have our holiday gatherings to attend. In a way, this busyness has become a tradition of its own – and maybe a bit of pre-holiday hustle is all part of gearing up for some well-deserved relaxation.

Workwise, I've been juggling all sorts of design projects, big and small. With Studio Bom, we’re planning the next steps for the Re-Think Re-Form exhibition that debuted during Helsinki Design Week. I’ve also taken up weaving again – finally got my own loom and am excited to dive back into it.”

Designer Anna Pirkola — Anna Pirkola is a designer and stylist living with her family in Helsinki.

What kind of Holiday person are you?
“I love the warmth and scents of the season, and that feeling of truly grounding yourself at home. One big tradition for me is giving the house a good, deep clean – it just doesn’t feel right to start decorating until that’s done. Candles and all the handmade decorations from the kids are probably the most important touches.

The kids have also made a little ‘elf door’ for a few years now; we’ll see if they’re still up for it! Though, to be fair, the elves have had a pretty generous hand with the treats, so it might be worth encouraging.”

HAY Column candle — The date and chocolate cake is one of Anna's favorites, and she bakes it every Holiday season. The large Column candle is by HAY.

HAY’s Italian Ice Cup dessert bowl is perfect for serving ice cream, jams, and other treats in style.

In Anna's family, gift-giving can take hours, with breaks to enjoy holiday treats, mulled wine, or a glass of wine. The Lampe de Marseille Mini wall lamp was designed by Le Corbusier.

What are some staples on your Holiday table each year?
“Our Holiday table is a mix of all kinds of veggie-based dishes. Some recipes go back to my dad’s younger years in Australia, others are family recipes from spouses that have joined our family over the years – and then, of course, we have the traditional Finnish casseroles.

But I think the appetizers are everyone’s favorite: caviart, onions, sour cream with toasted bread, mushroom salad, and all the pickled veggies, which my spouse especially loves making. Back in the ’90s, my mom introduced a tofu roast, and my dad an unusual take on eggnog. As for me, I love baking, and one of my top treats is a date-and-chocolate cake.”

Books at Finnish Design Shop — Books and magazines are Anna’s favorite gifts. A great nonfiction book is something you can revisit time and again.

Vitra Cork Family stool — Candles and scents set the Holiday mood. The Akari UF3-Q floor lamp and Cork Family stool are by Vitra.

Do you follow any specific principles when buying Holiday gifts?
“I prefer second-hand and non-material gifts whenever possible. I always try to think about sustainability, and my main rule is that the gift should be something the person will genuinely enjoy or find useful. I’ve already gotten one much-anticipated gift for my kids (and myself): tickets to see the Finnish artist Pehmoaino in concert!”

“I always try to think about sustainability, and my main rule is that the gift should be something the person will genuinely enjoy or find useful.”

What’s the best Holiday gift you’ve ever received?
“My partner is fantastic at picking out gifts. Last year, I received some Bill Evans piano sheet music from an antique bookstore and a lovely scent. Honestly, I’m happy if I get a book and some chocolate. And a puzzle is almost a must – I absolutely love them.

I think I’ve gotten a puzzle every year since I was a kid. My dad used to make me wooden puzzles himself, often with illustrations similar to Carl Larsson’s style. They started out simple but got more challenging as I grew. The last one I got as a teenager had around 500 tiny pieces my dad cut himself, all jumbled up in a bag so I didn’t even know what the image was!”

Puzzles on Holiday — “Puzzles are a relaxing way to spend time during the holidays and a perfect activity to enjoy with others; you can get immersed in them while still chatting,” Anna says.

Arita Japan TY Palace 160 plate, unglazed grey — The Holidays are a time to indulge in treats. The elegant TY Palace 160 plate is crafted by 1616 / arita japan.

Does your family have any Holiday traditions?
“We have a pretty unique way of handing out gifts, and it’s something we’ve done as long as I can remember. After our Holiday dinner, the whole group heads to a room where we can’t see into the living room. One person always stays behind as Santa’s helper, and their job is to ring a bell to let us know that Santa has ‘left’ and the gifts are now under the tree. Then we take turns opening the gifts one by one.

Depending on the ‘Santa,’ only one gift might appear at a time, so the gift-giving can easily stretch for a few hours, depending on how many people and presents there are. We take breaks to enjoy dessert, wine, and treats. It’s a lovely tradition, as it gives us time to chat about each gift and what it means.”

HAY Hexagon candle — HAY's Hexagon candle is so charming, it’s almost too lovely to burn.

Is there a particular Holiday that stands out to you?
“People are what truly make the Holidays special, and in the end, it doesn’t really matter if everything’s perfectly cleaned or on schedule. A couple of years ago, we had family and friends over from several continents. It was wonderful, though spending the Holiday just with our immediate family is just as special.

It might sound awful, but I also remember a few Holidays when we took turns being down with a stomach bug. After that, just being healthy and able to enjoy the little things, like treats, felt extra special. For some reason, those are the Holidays we look back on and laugh about the most!”