April
Although Sweden, like the rest of Scandinavia is mainly a secular country, Easter is a much bigger celebration than here in the UK. It is very much a family affair and offers the perfect opportunity to get creative.
Much like our Halloween, children dress up as Easter witches and offer poems or songs in return for sweets or other treats. Because of its religious significance it was believed that witches were particularly active in early spring and there are many tales and stories to be told. Legend has it that the witches would meet at a place called “Blåkulla” to rendez-vous with the Devil. The witches of today though are really rather sweet with their freckles, rosy cheeks and headscarves. I have very fond memories of sifting through old forgotten clothes, some even from the 19th century, in the loft of my Great-Grandmother’s house, looking for a suitable shirt or apron to dress up in and tout for goodies in the village or neighbouring farms.
Another favourite pastime is the decoration of birch twigs with Easter ornaments and brightly coloured feathers believed to speed up the onset of Spring and compensate for the lack of vivid flowers at this time of year. I spent some time this year decorating twigs (not birch unfortunately) with my children Oscar & Violet and their Mormor (my Mum).
The end of April sees the celebration of Walpurgis Night (Valborgsmässoafton), named after St Walpurga, en eighth century abbess in Germany, who became Sweden’s Valborg. On the 30th April, the eve before Labour Day, Swedes all over the country celebrate in a style reminiscent of our own bonfire night. Fires are lit, schnapps is drunk, spring songs are sung and as with other holidays, gravlax is eaten and the Smörgåsbord is the traditional meal type. The lighting of bonfires is an ancient tradition, thought to originate from the Vikings and was supposed to ward off evil spirits and witches. Nowadays the bonfire is really a celebration of spring and a wave goodbye to winter and those long dreary nights.
April is a traditional month and the promise of warmer weather definitely lifts the mood. We can all start to look forward to some springtime frolicking!
