Easter witch

Easter witches (Swedish: påskkärring, 'easter hag',[1] 'easter witch',[1] Finland Swedish: påskhäxa, 'easter witch') are an old Swedish legend about witches flying to Blockula (Swedish: Blåkulla, Blå Jungfrun) on brooms on the Thursday before Easter (Maundy Thursday, sv:Skärtorsdagen) or on the night between the Wednesday (Holy Wednesday, sv:Dymmelonsdag) and Thursday before, and returning on Easter.[2] In modern times children dress up as witches, old ladies or in old men's clothing and go door to door distributing greetings and often receiving treats in return.[3]

Easter witches in 2008 and 1958
A girl dressed up as an Easter witch

Witch persecutions

In the 1600s, fear of witches caused persecution and trials. More than 200 women were tortured to death in Sweden. The last witch was sentenced in 1704 but it was not until 1779 that the death penalty for witchcraft was repealed. Because of this during this time period doors and dampers were secured to guard against the travel of the witches to Blockula to meet the Devil. Any tools the witches could use on their trip were put away on Maundy Thursday. Barn doors were secured to prevent the witches from milking or riding the creatures.[4]

Modern times

In Sweden and Finland, it is an Easter tradition for children to dress as witches, old women and old men and go door to door for treats similar to the trick-or-treating tradition of Halloween on Maundy Thursday or the day before Easter (Holy Saturday).[5] The children sometimes present hand-made cards and other greetings.[2] Related to warding off witchcraft and at a similar time of year is the Walpurgis Night celebration.

  • Swedish Easter card from 1916. Witch with broom and coffee pot.
  • Boys dressed as witches in Finland in 2009
  • Easter witch handing out gifts (tree twigs) in Finland in 1998. The small basket is for thank you gifts.

References
  1. Prisma's Swedish-English and English-Swedish Dictionary (Third ed.). Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. 1995. pp. 304, 424.
  2. "Små påskhäxor på jakt efter godis". Yle. April 13, 2017.
  3. "Svenskspråkiga påskhäxor går ut på påskaftonen". Yle. March 13, 2010.
  4. "Skärtorsdag". Nordiska Museet. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  5. "Sweden's Easter Witches". Time. 9 April 2009. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
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