This should be a fun one to explain. Since we just celebrated Easter I thought we should learn a word that has to do with Easter traditions in Sweden. I chose this word because we do not have anything like this in the U.S.
Påskkärringer=Easter Witch
An ancient popular tale of the journey that the witches, riding their brooms, made up to the fictitious Blåkulla to celebrate the sabbath with the devil. The outward journey was on Holy Thursday with the return trip on Saturday. Some traces remain of this legend. One of the tradition has children dressed as a witch, traditionally wearing a dress, apron, and shawl, or old men (but also, sometimes, as a cat or a dog). On the evening of Holy Thursday the children go around their neighborhood, knock on neighbors’ doors, wish a happy Easter and – in exchange for an Easter card designed by them – receive sweets, money or other small gifts.
This is definitely one of the more fascinating traditions that I have learned through my time living in Sweden.
English