Påsk

So I thought it might be a good idea to compare Easter traditions. (Påsk means Easter in Swedish for those of you who didn't know.) In Sweden as well as in the U.S a lot of candy is eaten! And eggs are died fun colors. The thing that is different if how we get that candy as children and what happens with the eggs after their died.

In the U.S children dress up in their fancy Easter outfits, hunt for Easter eggs that the Easter bunny has hidden. When we wake up Easter morning we usually get Easter baskets brought by the same bunny with lots of candy inside! Easter dinner usually consists of Lamb (well in my family anyway) with of course the twice backed potatoes and green beans.

In Sweden it is a little different. Easter dinner is so good, we ate Kötbullar (meat balls), Korv (Sausage), and something with potatoes. Mmmm so good! The trees are decorated with colorful feathers and don't forget the Påskkäring (Easter Witch). Children dress up and go around collecting candy from their neighbors. There is of course lots of candy, and colored eggs, but the what is done with the eggs is really cool. The inside is blown out and used to make waffles or pancakes and then the shell is colored. Some are hard boiled and drawn on instead of colored. So I am sure you are wondering.. what has Easter have to do with Witches? Well..

It's a silly superstition but this is the history. People believed that witches were especially active back in the day and their black magic was especially powerful during holy week (which starts on Palm Sunday). They were thought to fly off on their brooms to consort with the devil in a place called "blåkulla", returning the following Saturday.

On the Easter morning people usually were a little hesitant to start a fire in their fireplaces. This was because it was thought that the Easter Hags got caught in the chimneys on their way home from Blåkulla and if you sent smoke up the Easter Witchs would come into your home. To be really sure that the chimney was free from magical beings you had to burn 9 different types of trees.

So I hope this helps you a little bit in understanding the differences in celebrating. One thing is the same though, Christians in both places celebrate Christs resurecction and are thankful for his sacrifice. I went to a church service here in Sweden and it was the same message, He is risin, He is risin indeed!