Kekri Feast at Viapori

Kekri is a traditional Finnish harvest festival, in many aspects similar to Halloween. In the past, each family invited also their dead to their Kekri dinner table. There has been an abundance of eating and drinking at the party. This was done in the old days to ensure that the following harvest year was plentiful.

Various kinds of magic, spells, beliefs and myths have also been an important part of old Kekri traditions, as well as bonfires. The young people dressed as spirits & dead, Kekri goats and goatesses. They went from house to house asking for food and goodies - similar to Halloween’s trick or treat. 

Many Finns consider Halloween too commercial, that is why once forgotten Kekri feast is becoming popular again - for instance Suomenlinna / Viapori fortress celebrated their Kekri festival for the 5th time. The highlight of Kekri feast at Viapori was the burning of Kekripukki = Kekri Goat. People could put all their sorrows and troubles inside the goat and then they disappeared by burning.

We have said goodbye to the light and welcomed the darkness. 

But everything is fine because by burning Kekripukki all our sorrows & troubles
disappeared as smoke in the air.

Fortress of Suomenlinna - Viapori is a Unesco world heritage site. The Swedish crown commenced the construction of the fortress in 1748 as protection against Russian expansionism (Finland was then part of Sweden). Photo: Wikipedia

Fire show Spell / Lumous - Viapori 2018

 This is an enchanted journey to ancient Finnish forest. 

Just look carefully, and you will see the flickering flame among the mystical creatures 

who dance around it, whispering their spells from the mist. Open your senses and allow yourself 
to be charmed by the beautiful and exciting element of fire!

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