The Swedish word for Easter – Påsk – has it’s origin from the hebrew “Pesach” meaning “Passover”. In Sweden it is
considered to be a christian holiday but have, in reality, become a mix of chirstian and old folklore traditions.

An example of this is Easter budles of birchtwigs that we nowadays decorate with feathers of different colors.
These probably originated in bundles of twigs that were used for playfully Whipping each other to remember Jesus’
suffering but in the mid 1800s people began decorate with the bundles of Birchtwigs with feathers of various
colors. While Easter decorations adorn our doors and table small children walk around dressed up as Easter witches
and asking for candy at the doors of people’s homes. This takes place on Maundy Thursday which was the day when
witches fly to the mythological place, “Blåkulla”, to celebrate with the devil.

On Easter will also give each other Easter eggs full of candy. An Easter Egg is a hollow egg, usually made of
paper, which you fill with candy. The color of Easter color is yellow and most of the decorations you’ll find will
be in yellow.

Naturally relatives and family also meet during the weekend to enjoy a good dinner together.

A tradition that is emerging right now is that in a couple of different geographical locations in Swede, events
are organized, so-called Art Runs (Konstrunda), where you, during the Easter weekend, can visit different
exhibitions from locally active painters, photographers and craftsmen.

Since there probably are a lot written about Easter and its traditions already, I will take you on an excursion I
made on Maundy Thursday in the vicinity around Uppsala.

As this year’s Easter falls quite early in the year, the winter’s snow has not yet melted away and exposed the
arable land available thereunder. But you can not complain about the weather – clear blue skies and sunshine – so
this day I took the car and went out to a place where art and crafts were displayed by its practitioners.

On of the places I went to is called Ulva kvarn (Ulva mill) which is a small craft center outside Uppsala. Ulva
Mill literally means “wolf-mill.” The mill is built at an old ford over river Fyris where you could sometimes see
wolves wander over and this is how the mill got its name. The mill building shown in the picture was built in 1759
but the place has been used for continuing operation since the mid 1300′s.

Naturally, people want to sit outside in the nice weather and have a “fika”. It does not matter whether it’s snow
or cold. You just have your coffee!

“Ulva kvarn” with its small shops for arts and crafts

As you all probably knows, witches are flying to “Blåkulla” this evening and, unfortunately, it happens that they
are flying too low at times and then the above occur.

“Fika” time. A small “fik” (a place buy coffee and cookies) in “Österbybruk”, a couple of miles north of Uppsala.

The witches are everywhere.

A traditional bundle of Birchtwigs decorated with eggs. There also are Daffodils which is the flower for the
season.

A nice place to have your coffee.

Today they had a “fika” buffet. “Fika” buffet means that you pay a fixed price, approx. $ 10, and you can eat all
the cakes, pies and pastries you want. The quantity of coffee or tea you want to drink is included in the price.

Another variation of decoration of the bundle of twigs.

And yet another one

If you do not think that a bundle of twigs is enough there are Birch trees you could use.

After having all this “fika” I had to go home for some well deserved rest.

Happy Easter to you all!

//Bengt