If it snows on Shrove Sunday and the sun still shines on the same day, the following summer will be a good berry year. Photo: Rovaniemi parish archive. The sacrificial road of God’s love The name for Shrove Sunday and the period before Lent in Finnish is “laskiainen” which comes from the word “laskeutua”, “to descend”, referring to the descent into Lent. Soon begins the time for simple living and self-denial. The Latin name for this Sunday is esto mihi (=be my) which comes from the old antiphon of the day (Psalm 31:3). Shrovetide contains a lot of traditions such as sledding in Finland. In many southern countries there are carnivals before the start of Lent. The word “carnival” comes from the Latin “carnis levare” and means “to remove meat”. The period of Lent begins after Shrove Tuesday on Ash Wednesday. The name for this day comes from Biblical descriptions of repentance and betterment: dressing in sackcloth and spreading ash on one’s head. In mass on Ash Wednesday, the priest may ma
Kati Jansa, chaplain An old Finnish legend tells about Mary, Joseph and a newborn child who have to flee from soldiers. The background of the legend is the story of the holy family's escape to Egypt in the Gospel of Matthew, when King Herod threatened to kill all the little boys (Matthew 2:13-21). The holy family's escape from Bethlehem to a safe place took place on rocky mountain roads, and in the middle of green olive groves, but the old Finnish storytellers had not seen this landscape and could not imagine it. That's why they told the story in the landscape that they themselves knew well. So Mary, Joseph and the newborn Jesus had to flee. In the middle of the dark, wintery forest they were afraid of their pursuers. The journey had already been very long, and the soldiers' voices were getting closer behind them all the time. Mary and Joseph carried Jesus, their breath was hazy in the cold and they were tired. Then the baby Jesus burst into speech and said: "Let