Hradecky on Christmas in Finland: 'Potatoes and onions from Santa'

Lukas, as someone from the country of Lapland, are you automatically a Christmas fan?

Hradecky: "I actually find the period leading up to Christmas quite stressful, but then it's the best period. Everyone comes back and we get together in Turku [ed. city in Finland]. I like that a lot."

What are these days like, then, at the Hradeckys?

Hradecky: "We celebrate in a small circle of five and spend the days at home. We boys used to want to go to parties in the evening, but my parents vetoed that and said: 'You spend the three days here, you can drink anything you want.' Nowadays we like to go and play padel tennis, we're a sporty family. In the evenings, we play lots of board games, such as Smart 10 or Pictionary. So, the evenings are long and we go to sleep very late. If you get up before midday at ours, you don't get any service [laughs]."

What's on your table?

Hradecky: "It varies, my mother and father surprise us. Veal, for example, is typically Slovakian. On the other hand, typical Finnish dishes are lots of stews, with beetroot or sweet potato - and a beer to go with it, of course. My favourite dish to start the day, however, is a Finnish Christmas breakfast with salmon, caviar and onions on black bread."

What's your nicest memory of Christmas?

Hradecky: "My parents brought a tradition from Slovakia to Finland. In Slovakia, you never see Santa Claus, instead you have to go into a different room. Then at some point there's a ring at the door and the presents are there waiting. As a child, you always spent all year looking forward to that moment. It was very nice."

How good are you at wrapping presents?

Hradecky: "Awful. Luckily my mum wraps the present for my dad."

What's the worst present you've ever received?

Hradecky: "There's a tradition in Finland on Saint Nicolas Day: if you've not behaved during the year, you get potatoes or onions. And to be honest, I got a few as a child. I made a good breakfast out of it, though [laughs]."

What are you particularly looking forward to in the new year?

Hradecky: "On the pitch, things have only gone up for us in 2023. I hope everyone at the club, in the team and all the fans round off this year with a nice Christmas, together with their loved ones, and we can then continue the trend."

Find out HERE how Hradecky's teammate Exequiel Palacios spends Christmas in sunny Argentina.