The week before Easter, Passion Week, starts from Palm Sunday. The name Palm Sunday refers to the day, when Jesus was riding to Jerusalem and people were spreading palm leaves in his path. As a reminiscence of that day, it is common for people to bring decorated palm leaves to church or carry them in Palm Sunday processions. In northern countries, instead of palm leaves people use willow twigs.
The following tradition came to Finland from Karelian orthodoxies.

On the days leading up to Palm Sunday, children all over Finland, begin to prepare for the day by collecting willow twigs full of willow catkins, which are then decorated with colorful strips of crepe paper and feathers. On Palm Sunday the children then dress up as witches and wizards, and if you should hear your doorbell ringing, behind the door you will find little witches and wizards with there baskets, pots and willow twigs, ready to tell you their magic verse; "Virvoin, varvoin, tuoreeks, terveeks, tulevaks vuodeks, vitsa sulle, palkka mulle". With this magic verse they wish you and your household good health and a good year. They will then hand you a willow twig, and as a little reward, they expect you to put a few sweets, little Easter Eggs or a few coins in their basket or pot.

In olden times the reason for using the magic verse was to chase away demons and the rhyme varied from area to area. In the countryside children could say; " ...and if you don't promise me eggs, hawks shall take your chickens". In those days children got real eggs for Easter and they did not receive them until Easter Sunday.

For information on how to cook and prepare Traditional Finnish Foods, from the everyday dishes to the festive meals and desserts, served on Finnish holidays and celebrations, please visit the Finnguide Finnish Recipes Section.

Public Transportation runs according to the normal timetable for the day of the week on which this event occurs.

Finland shops and services run their normal opening hours according to the day of the week, on which this calendar event occurs.
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