Palmusunnuntai ja Virpominen

Palm Sunday and "Virpominen" :-), I can't find the English name.. anyway story start like this...

"Ding Dong". There is someone at the door...mmm who could it be??? Surprisingly to discover that there are witches standing there, they ask something to get my permission (I've forget what they ask, actually more like don't understand :-)), I said OK... and they start chanting..(for Malaysian, it is read exactly read as in Bahasa baku" with emphasis on the "r" )

"virvon varvon tuoreeks terveeks tulevaks vuodeks vitsa sulle palkka mulle"

I did not get the translation of these word, so I cannot explain. It is some sort of blessing. So next candy was given out for them :-) and the witches went to next house :-).. OMG I'm save :-)

""Virpominen"" is the tradition (related to Pagan practice) that get the influence from Karelia Region. The young kids will dress up as witches and go around to give blessing for new spring and try to get some candy. It is very interesting and meaningful tradition :-), it is depend on the region, in Oulu, they do that one week before Easter, palm Sunday. The kids will start collect some bushes branches and decorate them with feather and colourful paper and also other stuff like small egg type decoration. This branches is called "Vitsa" ... not Vista :-)
Check how many my friends' kids, Samuel and Saana did for the vitsa, they will get a lot of candy :-) Hopefully they still got teeth to eat next day ha ha ...




I also got 2 "vitsa" that day, my friends' kids gave me, aren't their cute :-) And I did some cheating, I've gave out theirs parents candy back to them ... (Don't blame me, I dunno what to do, need to do something...)