"Virvon, varvon, tuoreeks terveeks, tulevaks vuodeks... vitsa sulle, palkka mulle"
This "spell" or variant of it is what Finnish easter witches recite going door to door on Palm Sunday waving decorated pussy willows. This tradition of "virpominen" is Finland's equivalent of trick or treating. The spell wishes the addressee health for the next year, they get the "vitsa" or "virpa" i.e. the decorated pussy willow and in return they give the little witch "palkka" i.e. payment, usually Easter chocolate eggs or other Easter candy.
Joel says Virpominen is the weirdest Finnish custom he's seen and that it makes Halloween look normal... Like many Finnish traditions connected to religious holidays like Easter or Christmas, it merges Christian beliefs with old pagan or folk traditions. Decorated branches pay homage to the palm fronds greeting Jesus got upon entering Jerusalem. Pussy willows, a symbol of spring, were thought to have magic powers and they were used to ward off bad spirits. The resulting combination of giving away decorated pussy willows called "virpa" at Easter was originally a Russian Orthodox Christian custom from Carelia. The branches would even get blessed in special ceremonies at church. It spread into other parts of Finland when Carelia was lost to Russia in 2nd World War and the Carelian population was evacuated into other parts of Finland in 1944. (Aside: My Carelian uncle says his mom had to clear their house within a 15 minute warning and had him as a baby in one arm and a loaf of bread under the other...) There the tradition mixed with trolling or dressing up as witches from Ostrobothnia region (western region) of Finland.
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