Palm Sunday

Early morning and long day at the university. Leevi and Emma visited in the evening. Pyrintö women team won quarterfinals! (Pyrintö 2 wins, Capitals 1)

Witches, cats and bunnies were out this Sunday, carrying willow branches ornamented with bright feathers and tissue paper. Most of Finland celebrates Palm Sunday with the same tradition: children dress up and go door-to-door collecting sweets in return for a willow branch. They might show up at your door, where they will recite a rhyme wishing you good health for the following year. The children will then expect Easter candy in exchange for the branch, which you get to keep as a memory of their visit. Reminiscent of trick-or-treating in the UK and North America, Finland's tradition of wandering witches is believed to mix Orthodox Easter blessing customs and pre-Christian spring rituals.

This year we got six willow branches!


+2°C, clouds sunshine, snowfalls