Easter :)

Here the Easter celebration is a little bit different than what I am used to in the US. For starters, they grow little pots of grass instead of having easter baskets, and the easter bunny comes and leaves chocolates in the pots. There isn't much of a craze about easter eggs as well. We got chocolate kinder eggs from the easter bunny, but the only reason my family dyed eggs was because my mom brought an egg-dying kit from the US to share with them. A week before Easter there is also a different celebration that is often associated with Easter but actually doesn't have anything to do with it. It is kind of the Finn's version of Halloween. The kids decorate birch branches with feathers and paint and then dress up as witches and things. They go door to door and "cast a spell on you" by singing a song. The song represents having good luck for the year. Then they give the house a birch branch in exchange for candy or a little money. Around Easter time they eat a traditional treat called Mämmi. It is a thick, sludgy porridge made from rye wheat and it isn't my favorite. It also looks remarkably similar to feces. It is eaten with cream and sugar.