The freckles and smiles are a way to upend that concept and make it fun, particularly for kids. As is common in Sweden, celebrations happen on the eve of the main event, so Påskbord is typically eaten on Påskafton (Holy Saturday). Why are there Easter witches in Sweden? Barn doors were secured to prevent the witches from milking or riding the creatures.[4]. Lamb will be prepared for dinner, as is common in most countries that celebrate Easter. It was believed that on this day, evil was released into the world – including witches, who would fly on their broomsticks to Blåkulla, an island where the Devil would welcome them to his court. Red. The tradition is said to come from the old belief that witches would fly to a German mountain the Thursday before Easter to cavort with Satan. And it’s fairly common to see cute little witches roaming the streets. A short summary of this paper. The children sometimes present hand-made cards and other greetings. But least you forget, this is Sweden. Primary Language: Swedish. These decorative twigs originate from the traditional birch used are a reminder of Jesus’ suffering, as Swedes would whip each other with them as a symbolic gesture of the Flagellation of Christ. Boys dressed as witches in Finland in 2009, "Svenskspråkiga påskhäxor går ut på påskaftonen", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Easter_witch&oldid=1016526871, Articles containing Swedish-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 7 April 2021, at 17:07. [5] The children sometimes present hand-made cards and other greetings. Beware the Easter witches in Sweden. That’s right. Hope you enjoy! In Sweden, Easter is a Time for Witches - REAL SCANDINAVIA In Sweden, Easter is a Time for Witches In the Christian calendar, the Thursday before Easter is a holy day that kicks off the celebration of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, which culminates on Easter Sunday. Easter witch handing out gifts (tree twigs) in Finland in 1998. Download Full PDF Package. Places To Stay Experiences Explore OUR ULTIMATE COVID BOOKING GUARANTEE. Want more Scandinavian Easter? Influential Swedish illustrator Jenny Nystrom is credited with redefining the Easter Witch with her colorful and humorous turn-of-the-century cards. Because of this during this time period doors and dampers were secured to guard against the travel of the witches to Blockula to meet the Devil. In the past, the bonfires were built tens of meters tall. Any tools the witches could use on their trip were put away on Maundy Thursday. Circa 1930s A little corner wear. Occupation: Student, Actor. This tradition has become far more palatable and child friendly in recent times, and is now similar to the American Halloween tradition of trick or treating. Swedish Easter Postcard Witch Blooming Broomstick Sweden Artist Signed Karlstrom 1930s Smaller sized postcard. There were two TV channels, one showing church services and the other showing documentaries. … In Sweden and partly in Finland, people dress themselves as an easter witch and walk from door to door at homes. Eggs, potatoes, meatballs, and pickled herring take center stage, together with traditional dishes such as Janssons Frestelse (Jansson’s Temptation) and, of course, snaps. More than 200 women were tortured to death in Sweden. Some will argue that Påskmust is markedly different than Julmust, while others will say it’s the same drink, just in a different bottle. This has affected the festivities, as many of them commemorate the turn of seasons. Easter witches (Swedish: påskkärring, 'easter hag',[1] 'easter witch',[1] Finland Swedish: påskhäxa, 'easter witch') is an old Swedish legend about witches flying to Blockula (Swedish: Blåkulla, Blå Jungfrun) on brooms on the Thursday before Easter (Maundy Thursday, sv:Skärtorsdagen) or on the night between the Wednesday (Holy Wednesday, sv:Dymmelonsdag) and Thursday before, and returning on Easter. Witch with broom and coffee pot. Even devout atheists have been known to pay respect to the long standing traditional norms that the holiday dictates in Sweden. [2] Related to warding off witchcraft and at a similar time of year is the Walpurgis Night celebration. }). Witches on Easter? As a secular country, the holiday is less of a religious celebration and more of a chance to spend time with family over the first long weekend of the year. Birch twigs are decorated with brightly colored feathers. Meanwhile in Denmark, they eat their main Easter lunch on the Sunday. While Sweden enjoys all the aspects of Easter you’re likely to find around the world – chocolate, eggs, rabbits – they do indulge in a few traditions less common outside of the country. Blåkulla, Easter Witches (Sweden) --Informant Info--. READ PAPER. The table is often laid like a traditional smцrgеsbord. Jansson’s temptation, or Janssons frestelse, is a gratin-style casserole with potatoes, onions, and European sprat. The eggs are painted with bright spring colors as a way of welcoming the new season into homes. In Sweden, Good Friday is known as Långfredag, which translates to “Long Friday.” A name fitting for the history of the day. Because of this, don’t be surprised to see scary witches and evil chicks alongside traditional home decorations of eggs and chickens. While many other countries typically … Witches still hang around in Swedish Easter traditions, but nowadays we call them ’Easter hags’ (Påskkärringar) and don't fear them anymore. The day was often spent with family playing board games, and would seemingly drag. Plenty of Swedes will take to their summer houses in the south and ski cabins in the north. window.fd('form', { The eggs are gathered in a basket as a centerpiece for the table or hung from trees and twigs. These are called Påskgubbar (Easter Old Men). On Långfredagen (Good Friday) and Påskafton (Holy Saturday), children and adults alike will gather to paint eggs and decorate birch twigs with feathers. Wrapped up in rags and old clothes, faces painted and broomsticks to hand, they head out with a copper kettle in the hope of gathering treats from friends and neighbours. Over time, this tradition has gone on to become far more whimsical. Sweden, especially Norrland, can have extreme seasonal differences. This is merely a cosmetic option, Påskgubbar also get to go door with the Påskkärringar. [2] In modern times children dress up as witches, old ladies or in old men's clothing and go door to door distributing greetings and often receiving treats in return. In Sweden, it’s also a day when witches come out. Easter witches Sweden. In West Sweden, many thousand people gather around large bonfires to celebrate “Easter Fire”, an old tradition that intends to keep the witches away. SWEDISH TRADITION Easter celebrations and traditions for the secular Swede are nearly as sacred as Christmas to the Swedish culture. Related to warding off witchcraft and at a similar time of year is the Walpurgis Night celebration. Nationality: Swedish. AzaleaBelle. Whatever the similarities or differences, depending on who you ask, this cola drink is only available at Easter. From Easter witches to birch twigs hung with feathers, Easter in Sweden is a fun mixture of tradition and fun. See you in Blåkulla!Visit our WEBSITE! The small basket is for thank you gifts. On Maundy Thursday, Skärtorsdagen in Swedish, children dress up as Easter witches (påskkärringar) and go door to door wishing people a happy Easter – in exchange for candy. When there is not a pandemic, Maundy Thursday sees one of the quirkiest traditions for Easter when the ‘påskkärringar’ – Easter witches – take to the streets to wish residents ‘Glad påsk’ (Happy Easter) and get sweets in exchange for a home-made drawing or Easter card. Back in the day, bonfires were ignited on Holy Saturday to keep away the mischieving witches and evil spirits. Fredrik Skott. Here comes the Easter witch – seeking Swedish sweets! Janssons Frestelse (Jansson’s Temptation). Here comes the Easter witch – seeking Swedish sweets! Swedish children started dressing up as Easter witches in the early 19th century in western parts of the country, and over the decades the tradition spread nationwide, remaining popular until this day. She then inspired Ingeborg Klein, Lars “Lasse” Carlsson, Sigrun Steenhoff, and her son Curt Nystrom Stoopendaal to come up with their own Easter Witch greetings. The traditional Easter brunch consists of different varieties of pickled herring, cured salmon and Jansson's Temptation (potato, onion and pickled sprats baked in cream). By tradition Swed’s by paper eggs and fill them with the children’s favourite sweets. Professional opinion machine and French pop music connoisseur. Printed in: Masks and Mumming in the Nordic Area. As far as we know, they are not practicing satanic worship. containerEl: '#fd-form-5f4e085b782ca6002a476993' Those assumed to be witches were thought to be part of a larger conspiracy, which was regarded as a threat to the kingdom it- self. Date of Performance/Collection: 4/29/15. It was believed that on this day, evil was released into the world – including witches, who would fly on their broomsticks to Blåkulla, an island where the Devil would welcome them to his court. One way to protect yourself from this supposed threat was to burn large fires, believed to scare them away. The witches of Easter (påskhäxor) or old ladies of Easter (påskkärringar) Possibly you see them, coffee maker in hand, running around the streets with their long skirts and headscarves, looking for … 2007: Easter Witches in Sweden. So … Some are displayed at home, and a few extras are scattered in the garden (or wherever the egg hunt will take place) for intrepid children to find while scavenging. Many holiday celebrations take place on the eve - the day before the holiday proper (for instance Walpurgis night and Christmas Eve). See more ideas about easter, vintage easter, witch. This year I am dressing as a påskkärring, or Easter witch, a beloved Swedish tradition! Easter wizard and Easter witch in Skattungbyn, a small village in Dalarna, Sweden. In addition to the Easter Bunny, who will hide eggs around the house for the children of Sweden, an old tradition here is the so-called Easter Witch or 'Påskkärring'. Similar to the U.S. version of Halloween, Swedish children dress up as witches and travel around to neighborhood houses, swapping Easter drawings for tasty treats. This paper. $151.67. Easter bonfires. Journalist currently working with documentary films. Young girls dress in raggedy old clothes and go door-to-door with copper kettles, asking for candy and treats. 2007: Easter Witches in Sweden… Despite its religious origins, Easter is a mostly secular holiday in Sweden. To this day, the little witches are more likely to roam on Easter Saturday in western Finland, but on Palm Sunday in other regions. I almost forgot I wanted to make this vid about a little local folklore concerning witches around Ester. Shops’ displays are filling up with yellow chicks, colorful eggs and widely-smiling bunnies – typical, you could say, of Easter symbols. According to folklore, a witch-like character flew on a broom to the mythical island of ‘Blåkulla’ on Good Friday to mingle with the devil, returning on Easter Day. Påskbord, the traditional meal eaten for Easter in Sweden, is similar to the luxuries of a Christmas smörgåsbord. Swedish Easter Witch - Påskkärring - Scandinavian Easter Decorations - Easter Kitchen Witch - Flying Witch on a Broomstick - Swedish Witch. formId: '5f4e085b782ca6002a476993', Time flies! Once the grass is long enough, children place painted Easter eggs and other decorative items, like Easter bunnies and chicks, standing on the grass. Adults prefer placing yellow daffodils on vases to celebrate the spring. Apr 14, 2017 - Explore Gayle Hajek's board "SWEDISH EASTER WITCH", followed by 243 people on Pinterest. On Maundy Thursday in Sweden, little girls dress up as påskkärringar, or Easter witches. Mar 17, 2020 - Explore Valerie Kolle's board "Easter witches Scandinavian" on Pinterest. Even though both boys and girls wear the traditional Påskkärrning costume, some boys instead chose to dress up in their best and blackest suit, a large fake moustache and any old top hat laying around the attic. Witch trainee over Swedish woodlands Häxor (witches) Skärtorsdag is the day when witches supposedly travel to Blåkulla (~Blue Hill) to have intercourse with the devil before returning on the night before Easter … It is often a time for families to gather, and a smorgasbord is the traditional meal – with eggs as the centrepiece. Half Swedish, half Dutch, based in Copenhagen. If you want to cause a fight, try stating out loud that the traditional soda Påskmust, is not the same as Julmust – it’s a question as divisive as whether Skåne should be part of Denmark or not. The last witch was sentenced in 1704 but it was not until 1779 that the death penalty for witchcraft was repealed. Children don headscarves and shawls, mark their faces with rosy red cheeks and freckles, and go door to door swapping homemade cards for candy. Terry Gunnell. [3], In the 1600s, fear of witches caused persecution and trials. When there is not a pandemic, Maundy Thursday sees one of the quirkiest traditions for Easter when the ‘påskkärringar’ – Easter witches – take to the streets to wish residents ‘Glad påsk’ (Happy Easter) and get sweets in exchange for a home-made drawing or Easter card. The Swedish Easter holiday is a five-day affair, starting on Skärtorsdag (Maudy Thursday), and goes right through to Annandag Påsk (Easter Monday). Easter Witches in Sweden 571 and consequently such beliefs contributed to the mobilisation of the church and the state against witchcraft. Easter Candy in Paper eggs instead of Chocolate Easter Candy. In Sweden, the spring holiday season gets a dash of Halloween spirit, beginning on the Thursday before Easter. They ask for treats and often receives candy, in return the giver often receives a hand painted easter card. The tradition is a bit similar to the American Halloween tradition. The story of Easter witches originates from the first Maundy Thursday when Judas betrayed Jesus. W alking around Stockholm, it doesn’t take a genius to realize that Easter is getting closer day by day. These days, they are somewhat shorter. The story of Easter witches originates from the first Maundy Thursday when Judas betrayed Jesus. See more ideas about witch, easter, vintage easter. Residence: Los Angeles. Before 1969, all shops, restaurants, and theatres had to stay closed on this day. The Easter bunny hides the egg in the garden or house and the children have to find it. Plenty of shops close or have reduced hours over this time, and Påskdagen, Easter Sunday in Sweden, is even a flag day. Well before the main fires are lit, a smaller fire is ignited in order to attract spectators. In Sweden and Finland, it is an Easter tradition for children to dress as witches, old women and old men and go door to door for treats similar to the trick-or-treating tradition of Halloween on Maundy Thursday or the day before Easter (Holy Saturday). Add to Favorites. Other unique holiday decorations Smoke free home. Find out about Danish Easter traditions, why eggs are part of Easter, and the history of aquavit. In Sweden and Finland, it is an Easter tradition for children to dress as witches, old women and old men and go door to door for treats similar to the trick-or-treating tradition of Halloween on Maundy Thursday or the day before Easter (Holy Saturday). Other Language (s): English. :o) As a reminder of Christ's suffering on the cross, on Good Friday ('långfredag') the master of the house would beat the children and the servants with bunches of birch twigs (fortunately, that is forbidden nowadays). 37 Full PDFs related to this paper. It’s a popular dish during Swedish Christmas and Easter. Today, businesses are allowed to stay open and many people have a day off work to shop, eat, and hang out with friends. Swedish Easter card from 1916. According to Swedish folklore, during Easter the witches fly to Blеkulla (Blue Mountain) to meet the devil. Uppsala., 2007. Some people buy pre-decorated or even plastic eggs, but the homemade variety still reigns supreme. Age: 32. The concept of witches came from Sweden and Western Finland, where according to tradition witches emerged on Maundy Thursday, the day that Judas was said to have betrayed Jesus, unleashing evil — and hence sorceresses — into the world. Download PDF. Sweden. 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