Decorating Sticks
While looking outside at all the snow and going on the -14C temperatures it might not be overly apparent, but spring is here in Finland. And with that, comes the wonderful Easter tradition of Virpoa, which is kind of like trick and treat without all the sluttiness of adults involved.
The door to door (of friends and family usually) is done on the Sunday before Easter, and before that, the children have to collect and decorate pussy willow to exchange for treats. Since Smallsteps can't eat most of the treat stuff, her family give her things like a coloring in book, or a book to read. instead - which I prefer for her, considering "sweet tooth" runs heavily on my side of the family.
There wasn't much willow around our area, so the grandparents ended up finding some around theirs, but it took them a while on their afternoon walk to collect enough so that everyone we will visit will get one per family at least.
The decoration isn't anything to write home about, but it is fun to do with the kids, using feathers and pipe cleaners, ribbons and stick-on jewels to bling them out a bit. It is funny that I reckon my wife gets into it more than Smallsteps, which is testament to human nature being creators, and how little most of us actually do to satisfy our core needs in this area.
And for Smallsteps, after a few sticks were decorated, she got more preoccupied making stuff out of the pipe cleaners instead. Which is fine of course, because that is fun too. I don't expect a six year old to have too much staying power in their attention, which is also why people should look seriously at how still children sit whilst watching digital screens - it is unnatural. But you know, people do what people do and like me, believe what they believe.
And, after about an hour of decoration and talking to @galenkp along the way, we ended up with about 12 decorated sticks, which means we might even have a couple left over to keep for ourselves, since we aren't going to be going to too many houses, only family and across the road to the neighbors, who are good friends of ours.
Oh, the other part of the tradition is that the kids dress up as "witches" but not of the Halloween sort, more like rosy-cheeked characters from a 1950s kids book, using clothes from around the house. It is cute, but unfortunately this is changing here too under the influence of US culture, so kids are dressing up in crap bought from the stores, like superheroes and silly masks.
I wonder how long it will be until the adults get in on the act and start using it as an excuse to dress in the most inappropriate outfit they can find, and get ridiculously drunk.
If I was 25 years younger.... it might be fun.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
Wow
So you mean you live in Finland. Finland is one of my dream places and I hope to visit there someday. It is the happiest country in the world and I have seen so many beautiful pictures of it
By metrics perhaps! :D
You can actually apply for a competition to visit and do a happiness course at the moment. Launched this week:
https://www.visitfinland.com/en/find-your-inner-finn/
Lol....this is actually a very interesting spin on being the happiest country, it's almost larrikin.... :D
I wonder how many applications they will get :)
Rather love it!
There is definitely something to it.
If you call -14C spring, I should call it summer as it is about 20C here today :) I think many parent doesn't care their kids eating sweets at early ages. This would obviously cause tooth lost in future and possible diabetes.
20 is summer!! Lot's of summer days won't be above that normally.
Diabetes, obesity and general ill-health is on the rise globally :)
-14 C was what we woke up to on a few days in the last week. The daily maximums have been between 0 C and 2 C recently. Easter next weekend should see 12 C.
Love every word you write in this post about traditions and culture in that beautiful land of Finland. I didn't know it that way with willow picking. It's beautiful, Mr. Taraz, to see you next to Smallstep so attentive and learning from your main life hero, her beloved parents.
Just as the sowing has its time and its demands, the harvest will be pleased, the best, I mean the relationship with your daughter and her immediate present.
Happy Easter to the family 🌴🌞
Happy Easter to you too. Any plans?
Thank you, Mr. Taraz, tomorrow is Palm Sunday in my culture in my country, and we are probably going to the beach on Monday for a couple of days, thank you for your good wishes.
Receive a big hug with a lot of warmth from my land in the Caribbean 🌞🌴🥥
I have always been moved by family traditions… In my home country, there are few moments that could be used for these gatherings, unless it is Christmas. Here in Canada, I have found many beautiful celebrations that involve the whole family and the whole neighbourhood.
With Matthew, my 6-year-old son, we are part of these traditions, which in turn are carried out very well by the local school system. My passion is to spend as much time as possible with Matthew, making the most of his tender years.
I love that you get to spend time with your lovely daughter. Receive a virtual hug full of blessings. Happy Holidays.
It is great with kids, as they really don't need anything fancy, just time spent with them doing something creative is enough. It is always a good time for them and relaxing for us too :)
We also played Twister this evening - that was not so relaxing for the parents.... bloody hard work!
Dear @tarazkp !
Why can't Smallsteps eat most of the treat stuff?
I remember you told her she had a food allergy.
I'm glad you look healthy!
You seem to be strong guy!
By the way, From my point of view, you look better with a shaved face!😃
Hmm, East Asian men like me usually don't have a nice thick beard like you! 😄
Allergies. Most things have gluten or lactose in them - unless they are just sugar.
I look silly with a shaved face now :)
This is really a beautiful tradition, I like it!
Smallsteps is really focused on making sticks heh heh!
However for adults every occasion is good to dress up as something and get drunk, I don't understand why they have to spoil children's parties and above all what need there is to dress up to get drunk lol!
I confess that I like masquerade parties, but I'm practically a teetotaler, I like them because I'm playful and deep down I still feel like a child, obviously as much as I like them, I no longer participate or dress up as a superhero.
She loves doing the art and craft work. She can do it for hours if she is in the mood.
I like costume parties too! They are fun, but most people don't get into them enough here. Every year though, the work Christmas party has a theme :)
Well that's a nice thing about the Christmas party.
Carnival and Halloween are occasions for us to organize masked parties at home, even just a mask, however, is fun.
Obviously I cook quintalk of stuff and lots of sweets heh heh!
Nice and Funny! Much more stylish than the usual traditional Halloween.
In Italy we hang around the houses also for Christmas, singing Christmas songs in the blocks, asking for donations or some sweet things and gifting some nice music to people. I used to do it a lot when I was at the high school.
Best way to get adults to get in the act is to take the lead isn't it? 🤣 That said, I do miss Halloween parties at all the clubs. Like you said, if only we were younger. It felt like the Covid years stole some of that youth away from us too.
Well atleast smallsteps isn't stuck infront of a screen... No offence..
But what she's doing there is the foundation of being able to think outside of the box... I know this is somewhat of topic from what you discussed in the post 😂 but creativity is not often seen in this world anymore
BLing it out, sounds like fun!
I don't need an excuse to wear a ridiculous outfit, but this sounds like a good one. No need to get drunk. Spring is my favorite! Full moon next week for Passover...
What a great tradition. It will make memories Smallsteps will have with her for life.
That's winter temperature. The weather does not care in the slightest how desperately people want the seasons to conform to their stupid calendar XD
I remember you writing about this one before and how it soon wouldn't be long til she could decorate her own sticks and now look at her go :)
My daughter is too old for that stuff but I remember her doing it for the last time a long time ago. We had kids coming to our house today.
nice craft
cute