Easter night services replace traditional morning worship as Orimattila’s midnight mass ends with light

Easter night services are growing in popularity across Finland, gradually overshadowing traditional morning worship, with Orimattila’s midnight mass this year culminating in a special light-themed musical performance, Valoa, reports Yle.

The most popular times for church attendance during Easter have shifted, with Easter Saturday night and Sunday services now rivaling the long-standing tradition of Maundy Thursday worship. While Maundy Thursday remains steady in attendance, Good Friday has also seen a modest increase, according to Arto Vallivirta, a liturgy expert at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland.

“In some parishes, more emphasis has been placed on Easter night services, while others focus on Easter Sunday,” Vallivirta said. “Larger cities, with their many churches, can offer diverse services that cater to a wide audience.”

Easter remains the second-busiest period for church visits, surpassed only by Christmas. In Orimattila, night services have gained particular popularity, both at Easter and Christmas, said local parish priest Tuomas Niskanen.

This year, Orimattila’s Easter Vigil will conclude with Valoa (Light), a musical performance blending personal storytelling with the Easter message. Directed by Väinö Weckström, the piece avoids traditional passion play elements, instead focusing on light as a universal theme.

“We all need light in our lives,” Weckström said. “I wanted to create something that resonates with everyone, regardless of their beliefs. The story invites reflection—each person can connect it to their own experiences.”

Weckström, who has worked on multiple script versions, believes faith and art often share the same tension between accessibility and depth. “Faith is everyday yet deeply personal, full of contradictions—just like theatre,” he said.

The performance follows two preview shows earlier in the week, with the final presentation immediately after Saturday’s midnight mass.

For Niskanen, any event that brings people into the church serves the parish. “Whether it’s a concert, a meal, or a light festival, crossing the church’s threshold is meaningful,” he said. “The space itself speaks, even if the event isn’t overtly religious.”