Virpominen @ easter!

Easter twig! 

In Finland we have this tradition to "virpoa" on easter.. the proper meaning is in the caption below but for mummy is merely the chocolate eggs you get from it!

"The word “virpoa” is derived from the Russian “verboa,” which means willow. Verboa comes from the Latin word “verbanae” which means holy branches. In the Orthodox church the virpoma branches are blessed during a vigil (?) Saturday. And that is why virpominen takes place Sunday morning; nowadays all day Sunday. The branches were readied the previous week. Decorations used were candy wrappers, crepe and tissue paper, ribbons, newspaper strips; everything possible that could be found from home, even feathers.

The virpoma branches were always left with those who were visited. And the branches are saved in the homes until Urpo’s Day May 25 to show how many “virpojaa” had visited the home. It was important for children to go to as many houses as possible so that they could relate at their homes how many eggs and candies they could retrieve the following Sunday. If children arrived at a house very late, the virpominen didn’t succeed and there would be no expectation of a reward. At home, children sought to virpoa their parents and nearby relatives while they were still in bed. Apparently that is when they had the best chance of success. If elders had already risen, they hurried under the blankets again, and the virpominen proceeded.

Virpominen was an important event, and the gifts received were a matter of honor. One knew that around them were friends who wished them good luck, health, and other good things for the entire year. Children compared among themselves virpoma babble, learned and taught each other new verses. Verses had to fit those who would hear them. Often mothers and big sisters advised the young ones to say thus and so to this aunt and that uncle. Often the recipients teased their visitors by not immediately waking from the first virpoma verse, rather waiting for new verses and promising only after many verses that they could return on Sunday for their gift. Sometimes the teasing was that a live chicken was promised, although the child hoped for an egg or rather a chocolate egg. But the sad mood changed to joy when the godparent changed the prize on Sunday to a chocolate egg.

Virpominen was and continues to be wishing ones dear ones a certain kind of luck and blessings. Good health, prosperity and good harvest, happiness, sweethearts, luck in marriage; all these were good wishes. "

i got 16 kinder eggs and wasnt allowed to eat any of them. :(