Thanks and congratulations for LuckyNumber for translating the rhyme so well. I'd have had an aneurysm for just trying!
This tradition is not much unlike trick-or-treating. I'm no folklorist but I strongly suspect they share origins. Marisa is using a pretty random-looking twig, but traditionally a pussy willow twig, is used. The twig is decorated with feathers and ribbons and whatnot. Not much unlike the Chinese New Year's decorations shown on the Wikipedia page. (I'm starting to suspect all Finnish easter traditions are ripped off from other celebrations in other cultures!) They are then exchanged for candy as demonstrated in the comic.
The tradition does not usually include burning children at the stake.
Also there's a tradition in Ostrobothnia (because everyone else in Finland does it in midsummer) to burn bonfires in Easter to get rid of the witches, but I don't think it involves actual witches being burned at the stake...
Higusan said: Also there's a tradition in Ostrobothnia (because everyone else in Finland does it in midsummer) to burn bonfires in Easter to get rid of the witches, but I don't think it involves actual witches being burned at the stake...
I was just going to mention that. I don't live in Ostrobothnia so the reference didn't occur to me immediately.
Moonspeaker said: Does Marisa really use a Finnish equivalent of "y'all"? That's a special bit of amusement, if so. Either way, its funny to see it coming from her.
Nah, not really. I just threw it in there because it sounded better than a plain "you" or "ya".
Moonspeaker said: Does Marisa really use a Finnish equivalent of "y'all"? That's a special bit of amusement, if so. Either way, its funny to see it coming from her.
"Sullei" is formed from "sulla" (you have, dialectical from "sinulla") ja "ei" (no)
Zaku_Zelo said: I'm surprised there isn't more art of Marisa going through witch hunting stuff. Not that I'm complaining. Marisa horribly burning to death is no good.
Don't be silly. Witches are hanged. You burn heretics.
Higusan said: Also there's a tradition in Ostrobothnia (because everyone else in Finland does it in midsummer) to burn bonfires in Easter to get rid of the witches, but I don't think it involves actual witches being burned at the stake...
The earliest memories I have of easter (I lived in southern Ostrobothnia back then) actually do involve a stuffed witch doll on top of the bonfire organised by the city. I don't know if it was an actual tradition (I've never heard of it being done anywhere else) or just a joke, but it's been done for a few years at least.
Iriad said: The earliest memories I have of easter (I lived in southern Ostrobothnia back then) actually do involve a stuffed witch doll on top of the bonfire organised by the city. I don't know if it was an actual tradition (I've never heard of it being done anywhere else) or just a joke, but it's been done for a few years at least.
Well I lived in Northern Ostrobothnia and I did sometimes see a stuffed witch doll on top of the bonfires, I suppose it's part of the tradition which some may or may not do.
While we're talking about the historical background - originally you didn't dress the kids as witches for virvonta. That element is a more recent addition, though witches have always been associated with Easter, or more accurately with Long Friday and Easter eve. The original idea was that the time between Jesus' death and resurrection is a particularly unholy time (with God being temporarily dead) so the witches are running rampant. Since then the original symbolism has been mostly forgotten, so witches are just seen as vaguely associated with Easter.
If y'all don't have any books, then candy's fine too.It was a joke! A joke!A treat for me.knock
knock
knockAlice! Put that away!Christ, you're such a fun sponge! That's why you don't have any friends!A twig for you...Theeere you go.Whisky whasky,
keep ye healthy,
for the year to be,
Finland has a sort of trick-or-treat tradition for Easter where children dress up as witches, collect willow branches, and exchange them for candy at people's houses after chanting this rhyme.
