Peter Cottontail

"Here comes Peter Cottontail,
Hoppin' down the bunny trail,
Hippity, hoppity,
Easter's on its way."






This past weekend we celebrated our first Easter here in Finland. Their traditions vary here, so carrying out the typical American Easter was a challenge! Lamb is the choice of meat for the main meal so I spent an entire day searching for a "bone-in-ham." Unfortunately, there is not a Honey Banked Ham on every corner. I was unsuccessful and we had to settle on sliced ham purchased from the deli.

The morning visitor is the Easter Chick/Hen/Rooster, not the Bunny. It only makes since to me since Bunnies really do not lay eggs! But the Easter Bunny did find our home and hid many eggs filled with M&M's along with leaving their basket filled with toys.

On Palm Sunday you may well see quaint little characters walking around. Children with sooty faces and scarves tied round their heads go begging, carrying broomsticks, coffee pots and bunches of decorated virpovitsa willow twigs. Little girls and sometimes even boys dressed as witches go from door to door, reciting good luck poems in return for money and sweets. We did not have any of these visitors knock on our door, but did see some in the neighborhood.

The oldest and no doubt the most unusual traditional Finnish dish is mämmi, a dark brown porridge made of water and sweetened rye malt. We decided to pass. Maybe next year.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!