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Virvonta
The virvonta or virpominen (meaning the act of refreshment or wishing) is performed by Finnish children on Palm Sunday to wish well to the households. In parts of Ostrobothnia, the custom is observed on the Saturday before Easter. In modern times, children dress as witches and knock at neighbours' doors while carrying salix tree branches (pussy willow), often decorated with colourful feathers. If accepted, they pronounce a blessing rhyme and leave a branch as gift, while receiving sweets in return. The custom is not related to Christian tradition but Western European tradition of cattle and harvest magic that was practiced in different places. History The tradition has various pagan and Christian origins: Nordic spring traditions to dispel bad spirits and wish a good harvest season, as well as the Christian ritual of the palms. In Finland, the Orthodox tradition involves children giving blessings with branches that have been distributed at church celebrations; it spread fro ...
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Trick-or-treating
Trick-or-treating is a traditional Halloween custom for children and adults in some countries. During the evening of Halloween, on October 31, people in costumes travel from house to house, asking for treats with the phrase "trick or treat". The "treat" is some form of confectionery, usually candy/sweets, although in some cultures money is given instead. The "trick" refers to a threat, usually idle, to perform mischief on the resident(s) or their property if no treat is given. Some people signal that they are willing to hand out treats by putting up Halloween decorations outside their doors; houses may also leave their porch lights on as a universal indicator that they have candy; some simply leave treats available on their porches for the children to take freely, on the honor system. The history of trick-or-treating traces back to Scotland and Ireland, where the tradition of guising, going house to house at Halloween and putting on a small performance to be rewarded with food ...
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Easter Witch Sk12 Pääsiäisnoita C
Easter, also called Pascha (Aramaic: פַּסְחָא , ''paskha''; Greek language, Greek: πάσχα, ''páskha'') or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of Burial of Jesus, his burial following Crucifixion of Jesus, his crucifixion by the Roman people, Romans at Calvary . It is the culmination of the Passion of Jesus, preceded by Lent (or Great Lent), a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance. Easter-observing Christians commonly refer to the last week of Lent, before Easter, as Holy Week, which in Western Christianity begins on Palm Sunday (marking the entrance of Jesus in Jerusalem), includes Spy Wednesday (on which the betrayal of Jesus is mourned), and contains the days of the Easter Triduum including Maundy Thursday, commemorating the Maundy (foot washing), Maundy and Last Supper, as well as Good Friday, commemorat ...
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Finland
Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, opposite Estonia. Finland has a population of 5.6 million. Its capital and largest city is Helsinki. The majority of the population are Finns, ethnic Finns. The official languages are Finnish language, Finnish and Swedish language, Swedish; 84.1 percent of the population speak the first as their mother tongue and 5.1 percent the latter. Finland's climate varies from humid continental climate, humid continental in the south to boreal climate, boreal in the north. The land cover is predominantly boreal forest biome, with List of lakes of Finland, more than 180,000 recorded lakes. Finland was first settled around 9000 BC after the Last Glacial Period, last Ice Age. During the Stone Age, various cultures emerged, distinguished by differen ...
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Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is the Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in each of the four canonical Gospels. Its name originates from the palm branches waved by the crowd to greet and honor Jesus Christ as he entered the city. Palm Sunday marks the first day of Holy Week; in Western Christianity, this is the beginning of the last week of the solemn season of Lent, preceding Eastertide, while in Eastern Christianity, Holy Week commences after the conclusion of Great Lent. In most Christian rites, Palm Sunday is celebrated by the blessing and distribution of palm branches (or the branches of other native trees), representing the palm branches that the crowd scattered before Christ as he rode into Jerusalem. These palms are sometimes woven into Christian cross, crosses. The difficulty of procuring palms in unfavorable climates led to the substitution of branches of native trees, includi ...
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Ostrobothnia (historical Province)
Ostrobothnia (; ) is a historical province comprising a large portion of western and northern Finland. Before the Treaty of Fredrikshamn in 1809, Ostrobothnia was part of Sweden. It is bounded by Karelia, Savonia (historical province), Savo, Tavastia (historical province), Tavastia (Häme) and Satakunta in the south, the Bothnian Sea, Bothnian Bay and Swedish Norrbotten in the west, Lapland in the north and Russia in the east. Etymology The word ''botten'' derives from Old Norse ''botn'', meaning 'bay'. It is Latinized as ''Bothnia''. The Finnish word ''pohja'' means either "north" or "bottom", and ''maa'' is "land". There are two possible explanations for the dual meaning of ''pohja''. The first is based on the ancient Scandinavian belief that the north was the bottom of the world, where the Sun disappeared each night. The second explanation points to the fact that houses were constructed with their backs to the north, the coldest direction, which may have given rise ...
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Pussy Willow
Pussy willow is a name given to many of the smaller species of the genus '' Salix'' (willows and sallows) when their furry catkins are young in early spring. These species include (among many others): * Goat willow or goat sallow ('' Salix caprea''), a small tree native to northern Europe and northwest Asia. * Grey willow or grey sallow ('' Salix cinerea''), a small tree native to northern Europe. * American pussy willow ('' Salix discolor''), native to northern North America. Before the male catkins of these species come into full flower they are covered in fine, greyish fur, leading to a fancied likeness to tiny cats, also known as “ pussies”. The catkins appear before the leaves, and are one of the earliest signs of spring. At other times of year trees of most of these species are usually known by their ordinary names. Cultural traditions Asia The many buds of the pussy willow make it a favourite flower for Lunar New Year. The fluffy white blossoms of the pussy willo ...
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Easter Witches In Nissilä IM5293 C
Easter, also called Pascha (Aramaic: פַּסְחָא , ''paskha''; Greek language, Greek: πάσχα, ''páskha'') or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of Burial of Jesus, his burial following Crucifixion of Jesus, his crucifixion by the Roman people, Romans at Calvary . It is the culmination of the Passion of Jesus, preceded by Lent (or Great Lent), a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance. Easter-observing Christians commonly refer to the last week of Lent, before Easter, as Holy Week, which in Western Christianity begins on Palm Sunday (marking the entrance of Jesus in Jerusalem), includes Spy Wednesday (on which the betrayal of Jesus is mourned), and contains the days of the Easter Triduum including Maundy Thursday, commemorating the Maundy (foot washing), Maundy and Last Supper, as well as Good Friday, commemorat ...
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Evacuation Of Finnish Karelia
As a result of the 1940 Moscow Peace Treaty that concluded the Winter War, Finland ceded a portion of Finnish Karelia along with other territories to the Soviet Union. As a result, about 410,000 people, or 12% of Finland's population, were relocated to the remaining parts of Finland. The treaty did not require Finland to empty the ceded territory, but few were willing to stay, and almost the whole population chose to relocate, taking their belongings with them. Only the buildings and machinery were to be left behind intact as per the Peace Treaty, which for the most part also took place. During the Continuation War, some 260,000 of the displaced population returned home. In June 1944, Finnish troops partially withdrew from the ceded areas again as a result of the Soviet Fourth strategic offensive. Simultaneously, the population was again evacuated. The Paris Peace Treaty finally confirmed the loss of Finland's territory. The evacuees were permanently settled in Finland. The ...
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Juha Vuorinen
Juha Tapio Vuorinen (born 31 March 1967) is a Finland, Finnish writer, columnist and radio personality. He is best known for his five-volume book series ''The Hangover Diaries'', particularly the first volume ''Totally Smashed!'' (in Finnish ''Juoppohullun päiväkirja''). Since 1983, Vuorinen had been working as a reporter for radio and television, a director, a screenwriter and a producer. Career Radio At the age of 16, Vuorinen had his first radio show for the show ''Ocsid''. At the beginning of 2013, Vuorinen returned to the ''Aamulypsy'' show for Radio Suomipop. He also had the radio columns "Vuorissaarna" ("Vuorinen's Preaching") ja "Annos Andalusiasta" ("A Bit from Andalusia") for the same channel. Vuorinen became a panelist on the show ''Hyvät ja huonot uutiset'' on Nelonen (television), Nelonen in 2017. Writing Books In spring of 1998, Vuorinen was asked to write a comedy piece for the keskus.net portal. He had just done a radio show about Tarno Manni whose play ''Mielip ...
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Easter Traditions
Easter traditions (also known as Paschal traditions) are customs and practices that are followed in various cultures and communities around the world to celebrate Easter (also known as ''Pascha'' or ''Resurrection Sunday''), which is the central feast in Christianity, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus. The Eastertide, Easter season is seen as a time of celebration and feasting, in contrast to the antecedent season of Lent, which is a time of penitence and fasting. Easter traditions include sunrise services or Easter Vigil, late-night vigils, exclamations and exchanges of Paschal greetings, flowering the cross, the wearing of Easter bonnets by women, clipping the church, and the egg decorating, decoration and the communal breaking of Easter eggs (a symbol of the empty tomb). The Lilium longiflorum, Easter lily, a symbol of the resurrection in Christianity, traditionally decorates the chancel area of Church (building), churches on this day and for the rest of Eastertide. The ...
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Public Holidays In Finland
All official holidays in Finland are established by acts of Parliament. The official holidays can be divided into Christian and non-Christian holidays. The main Christian holidays are Christmas, New Year's Day, Epiphany, Easter, Ascension day, Pentecost, Midsummer Day, and All Saints' Day. The non-Christian holidays are May Day and the Independence Day of Finland. In addition to this all Sundays are official holidays but they are not as important as the special holidays. The names of the Sundays follow the liturgical calendar and they can be categorized as Christian holidays. When, in the late 1960s, the standard working week in Finland was reduced to 40 hours by an act of Parliament, it also meant that all Saturdays became a sort of '' de facto'' public holidays, though not ''official'' ones. Easter Sunday and Pentecost are Sundays that form part of a ''main'' holiday and they are preceded by a kind of ''special'' Saturdays. Several Christian holidays traditionally falling ...
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