No Påsk – or Easter – celebration would be complete in Sweden without bonfires, fireworks, witches and anchovies! If this is not the Easter you grew up with, here’s the YLC run-down of some Swedish traditions that have left many expats scratching their heads. Glad Påsk!
Easter is a widely celebrated holiday in Sweden with most people concentrating on family gatherings, large feasts and traveling out to the countryside.
The holiday marks the first long weekend of spring in Sweden, so for most Swedes this is the time to head out to the country side and wipe the cobwebs off their summer homes for the first time this year. It also seems like the first chance to break out the gardening tools and prepare their “trädgård” for spring. If the snow is gone, that is.
Although Easter is a fairly secular feast and many Swedes don’t place much emphasis on church attendance during the holiday, there are still Easter sermons held in most churches around the city, just pop into your church of interest and inquire about their Easter Sunday schedule.
On Påskafton, (Holy Saturday or Easter Eve) young and old generally exchange Easter Eggs. Unlike in many other countries, these are made out of cardboard and feature chickens, bunnies and other images traditionally associated with Easter. Inside the giver has placed Easter treats; little eggs made out of chocolate or marzipan and other sweets.
Just like many other Swedish holidays, the celebration feast or “smörgåsbord” features crisp-bread, pickled fish and spirits. However, during Easter it is Swedish custom to have lamb for supper and also to consume a lot of hard-boiled – and painted – eggs, traditionally eaten the evening before Easter Sunday.
Another popular dish that will find its place on most tables is known as ‘Janssons Frestelse’ (which translates to ‘Jansson’s Temptation’) a creamy potato, onion and anchovy casserole. You know – like you were served at Christmas!
Don’t be alarmed if you receive one or two stray ‘Glad Påsk’ cards in time for the holiday – some Swedes still send each other cards at Easter, although it does seem to be a dying tradition among the younger generations.
Also make sure to do your shopping on the Thursday before the Easter weekend as most shops will be closed for the holidays!
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Smörgåsbord: Just like any other Swedish holiday, the celebration feast or “smörgåsbord” consists primarily of pickled fish and spirits. However, during Easter it is Swedish custom to also consume a lot of hard-boiled eggs, traditionally eaten the evening before Easter Sunday. Another popular dish that will find its place on most tables is known as ‘Jansson’s Temptation’ a creamy potato, onion and anchovy casserole. |
| Witches: According to Swedish folklore, Easter was a time when witches stole household brooms and flew to Blåkulla or “Blue Mountain” (a fictional mountain said to be found in Germany) to consort with the devil. From this ancient superstition a modern tradition has taken root in the form of a mini-Halloween where children dress up as Easter witches with headscarves and painted red cheeks and go door to door with a copper kettle looking for treats. This usually happens on the Thursday or Saturday before Easter. |  |
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Bonfires & Fireworks: Also based on the ancient belief in witchcraft. Swedes would set ablaze enormous bonfires to ward off witches on their return flight from Blåkulla. Nowadays the bonfires have become popular social gathering points throughout the country for drinking and celebration in the days leading up to Easter Sunday. Firecrackers have also become part of the tradition. |
| Birch twigs: Decorated birch twigs are a common sight in Swedish homes during Easter. These twigs originally served as a reminder of Christ’s suffering by which young people would playfully lash each other with silver birch twigs on the morning of Good Friday. Today ordinary birch branches, decorated with brightly colored feathers, are simply placed in a vase and seem to be an exclusive Easter ritual of Sweden. |  |
Your information Helped me. I’ve recently moved to Sweden, and I think it’s so cool to learn about the culture and customs. I would like to know more about Swedish food. At some time I’m sure you will cover that, so I am looking forward to it. Thanks you so much!
Sorry for the off topic comment but…One of my favorite 4th of July traditions is writing my name in the air with a sparkler, then burning my arm to see if I can still “feel.”
Would love to have fun with Swedish traditions close to me.
wow this helped me a lot now i live in sweden its amazing xx
lol i love sweden
Fun and informative site, perfect for me to link to when I try to explain Swedish customs to my foreign friends. Two comments though. 1) Never heard of bonfires and fireworks for easter. They were custom ages ago, but not nowadays. Now we wait til the last of april for bonfires and fire off the fireworks for new years.
2) Silver twigs? Never seen. We pick ordinary birch twigs. (Or for that matter, for those of us not so keen on biologi, whatever leafy looking twigs we find.)
Besides that, keep up the good work!
Thanks, Anna! I stand corrected, although I think the bonfires are lit in western Sweden still? Silver twigs are not used so much any more, but you’re right – they were used ages ago. I quite like the idea of silver ones though