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Easter – the most important celebration of Christianity

Easter – the most important celebration of Christianity

Rovaniemi Parish magazine April 2025 English summary.


In 325, the Council of Nicaea decided that Easter would be celebrated on the Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox. The vernal equinox means that day and night are of equal length. Spring begins after the vernal equinox, when the day is longer than the night. In Finland, the vernal equinox is on March 20 or 21. The date of Easter is based on the Gregorian calendar, which is used in many countries. Easter falls on a different date each year. Therefore, it is a good idea to check the calendar to see when Easter is celebrated: this year Palm Sunday is on April 13 and Easter Monday is on April 20.

At Easter, Christians celebrate Jesus, who conquered death. Easter is the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. People also celebrate the end of winter and the awakening of nature at Easter and in spring. Easter traditions in Finland include eggs, green grass, mämmi – Finnish Easter Rye Pudding and virpominen – waving decorated willow brushes. The Finnish word pääsiäinen comes from the verb päästä. At Easter, we break from fasting, which begins on Lent, lasts 40 days and ends on Easter. In many languages, the name Easter comes from the Hebrew words pesah and pasah. For example, Easter is paskha in Greek, paques in French and påsk in Swedish. Pesah means “to pass by” (in English Passover). Pesah is a Jewish Passover celebration, commemorating the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The ancient Germanic goddess of spring was Ostara or Austron, from which the English word Easter and the German word Ostern come.

Easter was and still is one of the most important times for the Sámi to meet, which are communal holidays. In the 16th century, the authorities of Norway and Sweden, which were under Denmark, and Finland, which was under Denmark, wanted to gather the Sámi for censuses. In connection with the large markets, people went to church, attended church services and organized celebrations. Such are the Marian days, Easter and Christmas, which mark the rhythm of the annual cycle, and are still the most important holidays of the year for gathering, for meetings of friends, relatives and acquaintances.

Easter in Rovaniemi Church


  • 13th April: Palm Sunday Mass @10:00 - also live on parish Facebook, YouTube, Virtual Church.
  • 17th April: Maundy Thursday Mass @19:00 - also live on parish Facebook, YouTube, Virtual Church.
  • 18th April: Good Friday Service @10:00 - also live on parish Facebook, YouTube, Virtual Church.
  • 19th Ap ril: Easter Midnight Mass @23:00.
  • 20th April: 1st Easter Day Mass @10:00 - also live on parish Facebook, YouTube, Virtual Church.
  • 21st April: 2nd Easter Days St Thomas Mass 21.4. @18:00 in Rovaniemi Church.
Warmly welcome!


A very special Biblical year has begun!

Please listen to pastor Aki Hätinen’s Word for Week on SoundCloud:



The Sámi Grand Prix 2025

will be held on saturday, April 12 in Báktehárji, Kautokeino. SGP 2025 will be broadcast live on NRK, SVT and YLE. The Sámi Grand Prix is ​​a competition in two parts: song and yoik. The yoiks must follow one of the Sámi yoik dialects (vuelie, vuolle, luohti, livde, leu'dd), and are performed a capella. The songs must be performed in one of the Sámi languages ​​(Akkala, Kildin, Ter, Enare, Skolte, North, Lule, Pite, Ume, South)


Malcolm Ershan's interview

In the interview series, Called by Your name, people talk about their lives, their faith, and the importance of the church. Malcolm Ershan is working as a volunteer in Rovaniemi parish. Malcolm has been involved in the activities of the Christian church since his childhood in his home country of Pakistan.

-Spirituality is always beautifully present in a parish community. I like meeting people, for example when attending church services.

Ershan and his family came to Finland about one and a half years ago. Before moving to Finland, the family's journey took them from Pakistan to Mauritius in 2017. The reason for the move was the persecution of Christians by the Pakistani government.

-We suffered for our faith in the Virgin Mary, Jesus and God, but the Pakistani Christian community is strong. Despite the adversities, our faith remains. My past in Pakistan, where many bad things happen, highlights the blessing my family has received and how many good things the church has brought to our lives.

Listen to Malcolm’s interview on SoundCloud:

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