The Election and "Laskiainen"

Temperature -9, very cold and moderate east wind, overcast. Feeling like -14.

Today it was the second round of the presidential election. The date of final result. It was also "Laskiainen" in Finnish (I posted about it last year, see Feb 19th, '23). 

Laskiainen is a celebration of Balto-Finnic origins, which includes both pagan and ecclesiastic traditions, and is often described as a "mid-winter sliding festival". Many of Finland's customs to celebrate the day or time probably originate from the old work party. Today, traditions are fun like downhill and ice sledding, where we say goodbye to the darkest winter and start waiting for spring. In addition to pea soup, the traditional dishes of "Laskiainen" include bun filled with whipped cream and/or almond paste or jam.

We were voting in the same place as two weeks ago, very near our home. Good, for I can say it was terrible cold. After voting we had a cup of coffee also this time in there, but now with coffee only filled buns for "laskiainen" were sold, not anything salty. We bought it, of course, it's gooood. Actually we have eaten it already yesterday and a day before it. For todays's evening tea there is one left for both of us. So, we weren't in any happening of sliding this year, but celebrated the day more than enough with the "laskiainen" buns, both homemade and bought from the store (main picture).

In Extra there is a hooded crow in our yard when we were leaving. It was doing its usual thing in the urban area, digging a garbage can and messing up places. This is very usual sight, also in our yard, I could say around a year. Especially there where someone is feeding them, they then begin to gather to the same place thereafter searching food everywhere. This is the reason why feeding birds is usually forbidden in the urban area, as in our place.