Visitor!

I couldn’t be happier, my sister just arrived to Wroclaw! Can’t wait to spend time with her, walk in the city, talk, show my favorite places and restaurants. I feel so proud about the city that most likely I will be walking and showing off like I would own the whole city. I bet all my friends have heard at least 10 times that MY SISTER is coming! :)

Last Saturdays football game Poland-Finland 5-0 was masakra (disaster) from Finnish perspective but at the same time it was nice to see all the Poles so happy. I was hoping for a draw as I felt that my feelings are divided. After the third goal I was hoping that Poland wouldn’t score anymore. Everybody else was singing one more, one more (I did the same after first goal) but no more after the third :D I had painted Finnish flag to my cheek and Polish flag to the other side. I was thinking should I take my Finnish scarf and eventually I decided to take it. It felt good standing with the scarf and singing while Finnish national anthem was playing. Polish national anthem was one of the best parts of the game, 40 000 Poles singing proudly. 

After the game we went to see if could see the players when they are going back to their busses. I was hoping to see my favorite Finnish player but instead we saw Lewandowski, Blaszczykowski, Krychowiak, Grosicki, Sczesny and Tyton. Even got some poor fuzzy selfie with Lewandowski :D

Football cultures are different in Poland and in Finland. In Finland people may just sit, watch the game and clap their hands if somebody scores (lame reactions) :D Just in past few years the Finnish fans in Helsinki have woken up, specially in Helsinki derby the fans are going crazy. It is still nothing compared to Poland. Few years ago when Polish team Lech Poznan came to play to Finland, the security failed badly. In Poland it is great to go to see a football game live as it really feels you are in the game with your full emotions. Most people are singing and showing their emotions. True fans have prepared some torches and huge sheets. Football culture in Poland has two sides, great atmosphere during the games but after.... hooligans are set free. 

-Camilla

Easter!

This year my Easter will be a bit different and not "traditional" in Finnish nor Polish sense. Finland national football team is playing against Poland here in Wroclaw this Saturday. Football game is not the most traditional way to spend Easter, but I can't wait to cheer for both teams (maybe more for Finland :D) I don't know how loudly I'm actually able to cheer for Finland as I don't want any Polish football hooligans against me.
I would like to introduce traditions from Finland and from Poland related to Easter. I want to concentrate to traditions that were new for me in Poland and traditions from Finland that I believe are weird for foreigners.

Finland

1. Virpominen: In Palm Sunday kids dress up like witches and they go from door to door in their neighborhood with decorated pussy willows wishing happiness and health. Normally kids will get chocolate eggs in exchange. These children dress up like witches are using a lot of different colors in their outfit (so not like in Halloween!)

   

   Me and my sister as witches :P

2. Mämmi: traditional Finnish Easter dessert that it made of  water, rye flour, and powdered malted rye, seasoned with dark molasses, salt, and dried powdered Seville orangezest. It is normally eaten with sugar and milk or cream. My personal favorite is to eat it with vanilla souse. :P Mämmi doesn't look so delicious and that is why it is weird.

Mämmi. Photo from https://www.flickr.com/photos/stello74/

Poland

1.  Blessing of the Easter basket: Baskets containing a sampling of Easter foods are brought to church to be blessed on Holy Saturday. Foods in the basket have a symbolic meaning, normally it contains eggs, bread, lamb, salt and some ham (last year I also saw some chocolate eggs).

   

   Photo from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zakwitnij/

2. Wet Monday: Huge water war :D You can't feel safe anywhere (specially if you are a girl). Boys can have water guns on the streets or somebody may pour water from the window when you are walking by.

   

   Photo from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ridg/

In my opinion these are the most interesting traditions from both countries. Now I'm just dreaming about some mämmi... ;)

-Camilla