Laskiainen
Laskiainen () is a celebration with Finnish origins, which includes both pagan and ecclesiastic traditions, and is often described as a "mid-winter sliding festival". In clerical sense, Laskiainen is associated with Shrove Tuesday (a.k.a. Fat Tuesday) and is a celebration of the beginning of Lent that takes place before Easter. In Northern Europe, this tradition has been practiced from at least the 7th century onward, and in Catholic countries – in form of carnivals – even before that. Laskiainen in Finland Etymology The etymology of the word "laskiainen" has been uncertain. Candidates for the source of the word have been "laskeutua" ("to descend", as in descent to fasting) or "laskea" ("to count", as in counting days until Easter). According to a third proposal, the word comes from the old Romance term carne lasciare ("to leave meat"), with the latter part having changed into a Finnish form. As Laskiainen is called "fettisdag" ("fatty tuesday") in Swedish after the French name "Mardi Gras", one possible explanation for the Finnish name is simply "läskitiistai" ("fatty Tuesday"). The Finnish word "läski" comes from the Swedish word "fläsk" meaning pork meat and pork fat. "Fläsktisdag" is also part of Swedish culinary traditions. Traditions The traditions