Easter embraces shadow and light, grief and joy

Holy Week begins this week, on 24 March Palm Sunday. It ends with Holy Week's festive Easter celebrations. Iida Rotko, pastor of the Espoo Cathedral Parish, describes how the various church services during that week together form a unique and compelling experience.

- Holy Week services invite you to walk into the Easter story: to witness Jesus’ final days. They start from the gates of Jerusalem, where Jesus enters the Holy City on Palm Sunday. After the dark shadows of Maundy Thursday and Holy Friday, the story’s joyful climax comes on Easter morning with the startling discovery of the empty tomb.

‘A branch for you, a reward for me!’

On Palm Sunday, 24 March, the Bible story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem is read in the church service. A crowd celebrates Jesus’ arrival, waving palm branches. The Finnish tradition of ‘virpominen’ originates in these events. Children dress up as wizards, bunnies, cats, or other fantasy figures. They go door-to-door collecting sweets in return for a decorated willow branch. As they wave their colourful branches, they recite the rhyme ‘I'm wishing you a fresh and healthy year! – A branch for you, a reward for me!’

Espoo's parishes offer many opportunities for decorating willow branches and crafting Easter decorations together:

• Children's songs and Easter craftsLinkki avautuu uudessa välilehdessä at Chapple (Iso Omena Mall) on Tuesday 19 March at 5:30 p.m.
• Easter crafts evening for adultsLinkki avautuu uudessa välilehdessä at the Iso Omena Library on Thursday 21 March at 5 p.m.
• Willow branch crafts workshopLinkki avautuu uudessa välilehdessä at the Espoonlahti Church Easter bazaar on Saturday 23 March from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• All-family willow branch crafts workshop and Willow churchLinkki avautuu uudessa välilehdessä at Tapiola Church on Saturday 23 March starting at 4 p.m.
• Family Easter craftsLinkki avautuu uudessa välilehdessä at the ‘Safkaa ja seuraa’ (Food & friends) evening at Suvela Chapel on Wednesday 27 March at 5 p.m.

On Palm Sunday, churches are full of joy and light. You can find out about the various services, masses, and other events here.  An international Palm Sunday Mass in English and Finnish is held at Karakappeli Chapel at 3 p.m.

An international Palm Sunday Mass in English and Finnish is held at Karakappeli Chapel at 3 p.m. 

Maundy Thursday – the most popular communion day

Maundy Thursday has become the most popular day of the year for people to celebrate Holy Communion in the Evangelical Lutheran Church. The communion bread and wine commemorate Jesus' last meal with his disciples.

Towards the end of the mass, the organ is silenced, and the candles are extinguished. The altar is completely stripped and draped in black. The congregation leaves the church in sombre silence and darkness. The church remains dark until Easter Eve, when the lights are turned on, and the feast of the resurrection begins. It is a powerful and moving experience.

See Events for Maundy Thursday, 28 March.

The black, quiet Good Friday mass in Holy Week

The Gospels tell us that Jesus is crucified and dies on Good Friday. The Christian Church teaches that Jesus sacrifices himself for our sins. Good Friday is the only church holiday on which black church vestments are used. On Good Friday, churches hold services of the Word, and people linger at the foot of the cross.

The altar is adorned by a bouquet of five roses, representing Jesus's wounds. No organ or other instruments are usually played, and the hymns are sung without accompaniment.

On Good Friday, 29 March, several concerts are held in Espoo's churches with performances of passion music.

Easter is Christendom’s joyful highlight of the year

The actual Easter celebration is so important that it spreads over two consecutive days: Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, also known as First and Second Easter Day. The joyful Easter celebration begins on Saturday evening when the church bells ring to invite people to the Easter Vigil.

On Easter morning, the tomb is empty. Jesus has risen from the dead. On Easter Monday, 1 April, many churches celebrate a family mass. After mass in Leppävaara Church, Olari Church, and Tapiola Church, children can join in a fun Easter egg hunt.

Jesus’ death and resurrection happened during the Jewish Passover feast commemorating the liberation of Israel from slavery in Egypt. On Easter Monday, Leppävaara Parish will offer the opportunity to learn more about the Jewish Passover over a traditional Seder meal. The price of the meal is 15 € for adults and 5 € for children (4–12 years). Please, register by 22 March if you want to join the Seder meal.

To learn about the Easter Vigil, Family Mass, Gospel Mass, and all other Easter events, see here.