Laskiainen

There is something like a “Pancake Day” in the Catholic Church in spring, before the beginning of the lent. In Finland this day has nowadays also the significance of Shrove Tuesday. On the 8th of March people had been sledging down hills and eating those famous Laskiaspulla.

“Laskiaissunnuntai” which means Carneval Sunday and “ruusumaanantai” which means Mardi Gras or in our country more known as Rose Monday are the most important days of Carnival after the period of lent and Easter.

In Turku there was also an event called “Laskiainen” where everyone could participate and go sledging down a hill. Sadly I could not take part because I was travelling this day. But the week before the Pikkulaskiainen took place which was organised by students from the Turku University. Different groups of students from all over Finland and from different subjects and universities built their own sledge and went down the hill with this sledge. It was extremely funny watching them sledging down the hill. Sometimes the sledges did not work properly and the students fell off their sledges.

Pikkulaskiainen

As I already mentioned above, during this period of time, people would bake this traditional food called “Laskiaspulla” which looks like a cruller and has whipped cream and jam in it. The dough is the same as used for the Finnish cinnamon rolls. We also enjoyed this kind of pastry at Milja’s place as she is a very good baker and made them for us. I could even helped her filling the rolls with jam and cream. Mmmh...They were really delicious.

Laskiaspulla

The rolls in the oven - getting ready to be filled afterwards!

Strawberry jam and cream