Easter Experience at Ilonka
Welcome to Ilonka’s Easter Experience!
Our Easter Experience Event is held on Saturday 19th of April 11.30-16. You can come and go as you like – stay for just a short while or longer.
We gather around the bonfire, honor our surrounding nature and rejoice the arriving spring time and light.
In ancient times, the feast of spring and light included cleaning, casting spells while waving decorated branches, painting and eating birds’ eggs, dancing and playing around bonfires and more. This was done to get rid of evil spirits and bring good luck, health, wellbeing and happiness. Let’s celebrate together and welcome spring like our ancestors did!
Meet us at the event and participate in the activities for the whole family:
* Painting egg shells
* Decorating spring branches and learning the Easter spell
* Small snow glider hill
* Campfires and bonfire to dance and play around, also possibility to buy sausages to grill
* Sensory experience in our small Sami hut Kammi where you can activate your senses: listening to drums and singing bowls, smelling different scents, gazing at the fire…
* Meeting and cuddling with the beautiful Huskies
* Seeing baby chicken if they already are born or just gazing at the eggs from which they are bound to hatch sooner or later
* Meeting sheep
* Exploring the mystical nature trail
* 25€/person (0-3-year-olds free of charge)
* Easter Experience Event is held on Saturday 19th of April 11.30-16. You can come and go as you wish and stay for only a short while or longer.
There is also the possibility to eat lunch or enjoy some delicacies at the Kota Cafe.
There is a Husky Walk (which you can upgrade into a Woolen Sock Husky Walk) at 4-5pm if you want to enjoy an activity while you are visiting Ilonka. Be sure to book in advance!
Please note that our Kota Cafe is open only for this event during on Sat 19/4.
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Easter Time’s Mythology
For ancient Finnish people, Easter was a spring feast where nature and mythology played a huge role. In ancient times, the feast of spring and light included cleaning, casting spells while waving decorated branches, dancing and playing around bonfires and more. This was done to get rid of evil spirits and bring good luck, health, wellbeing and happiness.
Fire was known as an element which cleansed and protected against evil spirits and witches. Especially juniper and tar smoke were known to scare evil spirits away. On the other hand, fire also attracts good spirits and brings luck and happiness. The branches with possible signs of life were a sign that the harsh winter was overcome and spring time with light and vitality had arrived.
Birds’ eggs have played a big role in spring time. They were eaten and also painted. An egg is a sign of nature’s vitality which withholds the possibility of new life. During Easter time, the eggs symbolize the awakening nature but also our chance to through our actions make an impact on our future.
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