Thursday before Easter is what we call Skärtorsdagen. Yes, it is a Christian holy day. Most people are off work and kids are most likely home from school this day.
But we have a tradition in Sweden on this day. This is the Swedish wikipedias (and google translation) explanation:
Maundy Thursday, according to folklore, the day on which the witches went to Blåkulla to celebrate the witches’ sabbath with the devil. This caused all sorts of precautions in the form of hidden brooms, closed flue damper and gunshots in the air to obstruct witches movements. This is why the children dress up as Easter witches, a custom that has occurred during the 1900’s in the Stockholm suburbs which may occur on different days during Easter weekend in different parts of the country. Costumed children goes around among the neighbors with painted cards or eggs wishing Happy Easter and hope to get candy in return. Sometimes, the practice also include fundraising for charity.
And:
Blåkulla (Blockula) is the place where witches according to folklore, was flying on broomsticks during Maundy Thursday to celebrate the witches’ sabbath with the Devil. Orgies said to have been going to Easter Saturday or Easter Sunday morning when “witches” went home again. Large bonfires were lit to chase them away.
Ya, that sums it up pretty well. Here is a photo of me and my sister from when we were dressed up as these old ladies:
One memory that I have from being dressed as a Påskkärring (the old lady/Easter witch) as a kid, is that me and my best friend at the time (that was probably my best friend only for like a week or so, haha) went down to the little tiny supermarket in our neighborhood. We stood outside the store and sang for costumers that walk in and out of the store. We earned quite a lot of money and some good candy by doing that.
Swedish traditions is really something that I wanna keep in my future marriage. I love the stories we made up about the witches going to Blåkulla. Just a few years ago me and my friend were texting each other with stories about our black cats and broomsticks and we made up when and were we would meet to fly off for the big Witch party. Haha, silly! And yes, we were +20 years old, hahaha.
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