Hello!
The spring is here and soon it is time to celebrate Easter. This year’s celebrations might be more quiet than usual but we should still keep up with the traditions and perhaps come up with the new ones!
A firm tradition in our household has been decorating pussy willow twigs (or any natural twigs available). It is a perfect craft activity for all ages and abilities. In Finland these colourful and joyful twigs play an important part in ‘Easter Witch’s rounds’ which is a popular tradition for the Finnish children (more about this below). Decorated twigs will look gorgeous in flower arrangements or by themselves. Any recycled material can be used such as sweet wrappings, pipe cleaners, feathers, tissue paper and even newspapers. You can keep it as simple as you like or go for the full ‘bling-bling’. Only your imagination is the limit!
To make my twigs, I went through my craft cabinet and found the following items:
Recycled tissue paper
Yarn
Feathers
Wired ribbon
But you can use anything you have available.
You will also need:
Pussy willow twigs (or any natural twigs)
A pair of scissors
Craft glue to attach the feathers
(Darning needle)
I was brought up in Finland and Easter in Nordic countries is an exciting mix of history, religion and traditions.Bonfires, church ceremonies and the little children dressing up as Easter witches are all part of the festivities. This children’s tradition to dress up as witches came to Finland with the Karelian immigrants in the 1940’s after Russian occupation and it merged with the superstitious tales from the Western part of the country where they believed that the evil spirits and witches were to roam and do mischief on the Saturday before Easter. The children are dressed up on oversized clothing and headscarves and their faces are painted with freckles and rosy cheeks. They go from door to door with the willow twigs that they have decorated and cast a good spell on their neighbours and friends, wishing them a healthy year ahead. In exchange they would expect to get a little treat, such as a chocolate egg or a coin. I have very fond memories from my own childhood walking around in the neighbourhood doing this. We used hours to decorate our twigs knowing that the more attention we paid the more delicious treats were waiting for us.
Unfortunately, this year the little witches have to stay at home casting their good spells but maybe we can all join them in our thoughts with our beautifully decorated twigs to wish each other a healthier and happier year ahead!