Happy Easter, Happy Spring, Happy Everything!

Spring is here! The beautiful Scandinavian lighter days have returned. Easter in Sweden is a big deal. People buy birch branches and decorate them with feathers and eggs. When I was growing up in the 80s my Mum would do this. I think my English friends must have found it a bit unusual. Today, I seem to see it everywhere in the UK.

Last week, Gothenburg and the surrounding towns started to decorate for Easter. There are feathers everywhere,

An unusual part of Easter in Sweden are the witches. Little girls will dress up as a witch, putting on old clothes with a head scarf, and then go door to door asking for treats. Very similar to Halloween. The tradition is said to come from the old belief that witches would fly to a German mountain the Thursday before Easter to cavort with Satan. On their way back, Swedes would light fires to scare them away. People still light bonfires and set off fireworks leading up to Sunday.

I have sent my mum a postcard wishing her a Glad Påsk (Happy Easter) that looks very similar to the one below.

Another little factoid for you, Easter eggs in Sweden are usually made of paper mache and are filled with all types of sweets. There are sweet shops in Gothenburg that remind me of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. They are a child's dream come true. Here is my local sweet shop.

I was at this sweet shop today filling my paper egg. I have already eaten quite a few. I should really hide my egg away until tomorrow.

On another note, the clocks go forward tonight, so my mornings will be even lighter. I am very much looking forward to the rest of spring and publishing the next Delilah Dusticle story.

Glad Påsk!