Celebrating a Decade: Paskris: Swedish Easter Tradition (4th most popular)

First Published on March 28, 2015--and republished a few times since, here it is, as we approach easter, a post on how easter is celebrated in Sweden 

So, last published on July 31, 2019--this is being published again for two reasons. Because it is time.  Because it is spring and feathers are around, and I do not need a thick coat, and not having gloves or hats on me is not dangerous. 

But also because even though I have been talking to you all in my head, I know that I want to write this next one properly.   

Btw, for the first time I thinking I need to sell my articles to magazines for money.  I mean I write so much.  It must be age, I start to think about 'the time'.  I love this blog.  But I write for other online portals, all free.  And it can take about 3-5 days for a proper article.  I never asked for money.  But now I think I might want to publish where they will pay.....:)) 

(What do you guys think? Will someone be willing to pay me?? :)

Regardless, whoever you all are, stay safe--this virus thing is nothing but toxicity in the air.  I think it is going to die down soon, Very soon. I will connect again soon.

_________________

First published in 2015--last published last year on March 30, 2018--here is the fourth most popular post. Gives a bit of culture and color

First published on March 28, 2015--republished here because its bright, its easter and spring is back..with its bright and yet somehow annoying million watt light!!  Living the magical life!!

Feathers, Colors, Eggs and Birds: Happy Spring

Come Spring, in Sweden you start to hear the birds in the forests and around your house (although funnily enough you hear some throughout the winter--truly swedish birds).feathers on sticks start to be sold in the shops, along with many wreaths made of feathers….

Paskris, or easter twigs (literally easter-rice) is an Easter tradition in Sweden.  The twigs are taken from supple birch trees that are finally enjoying being able to feel the sap in their veins, and are standing erect in affirmation of their own life. 

As, we all know, many of the Christian holidays/celebrations were imposed on pagan celebrations to convert/transform Pagan celebrations to christian celebrations. So, easter is actually a celebration of resurrection of nature from the dead.  Sweden, is one of the few countries, though christianised as kept many of its pagan traditions. 

Swedish Easter Witches---one of Sweden's and parts of Finnland tradition--is a celebrated by dressing young girls as witches and boys as old men.  Some of its traditions are similar to Halloween--as in trick or treat. Girls and boys dressed as Häxa (witch) or Gubbe (old man) go door to door with a  copper kettle (not that common anymore) looking for treats, in exchange for hand drawn paintings. The tradition comes from old belief that witches would fly to a German mountain the weekend before Easter to meet with Satan, and on their way would pick up young children for their meal.  Swedes would light fires to scare them --a practice still prevalent today to light bonfires--and dress young children as witches and old men to confuse the witches. Every easter there are also Påsk (easter) parades, where children, dressed up in costumes, accompanied by parents and a loud band, announce the arrival of spring.  The above pictures were taken at the parade last year. 

My Rear Window

I commute to the city where I am working a few times a month. The door that leads to a tiny patio, opens up in the common little park where I can see all the balconies. Feels like I am Jimmy Stewart in Rear Window. As the night falls, it all lights up.

As Christmas comes, it gets even brighter.....

Click on both the picks to get a larger image and see the difference. 

Its pure delight!

PS: it hardly snows in this city. But I think I brought some with me from Karlstad to Goteborg. 

 

Dressing the City: Happy Advent

 I am still  in Gothenburg  and two weeks ago the city starting getting ready already.

Dec 1 is advent and all the lights must go up before that.

Here are a few shots...enjoy...

Just outside of the apartment where I live

The bridge I take to get to the tram station...Vågmastareplatsen....

                                                        In downtown...

This is how dark it is at 4 pm, and lights look a little dreamy...it has to be dark before you can enjoy the lights....

Påsk Lilja

 

Påsk, is Swedish word for Easter (Pasqua in Spanish). Lilja is Swedish word for lilly.

So Daffodils are Påsk Lillies....Here are some other posts about them ....

One of the first posts from April 2010. Pics taken in Sweden

One on Påsk Ris from 2019

Enjoy Your Easter!

T'is the Season of Feathers: A Photo Essay

First published on April 23, 2020...here it is again...after all...bunnies are out, the skies are clearer and things with feathers are back...

Starting February, you start seeing these colourful feathers, in offices, outside homes and offices, in shops in doctor's offices. And also around you.  You know, the birds are back!!

Technically, there are some birds that never leave.  Sparrows for example, then there are the magpies and the ravens.  Then there is the yellow breasted sparrow looking--Great Tit (official name), always brightens our days.  Btw, has anyone heard of or seen this movie? The Big Year? (click on the name of the movie to see the trailer).  I watch a tonne of trailers.  So I know about movies, but hardly get the time to watch them.  The Big Year came on TV a few weeks ago and I just loved it.  An underrated film about bird-lovers/watchers, the movie is actually about relationships.  About friendships and about what we give up for careers. I would never do that.  Even though that is what people think when they see that I have worked on my own towards a small career.  

Careers are not important, at least not more than relationships.  Even in my limited career trajectory I have made some real friends.  

So every year I see these feathers, it means a cycle has completed, it means spring is here, it means temperatures are going to warm up, it means we may not need thick jackets and may do with light ones.  Feathers mean, hope, they mean life. 

You can buy them at regular stores and grocery stores like COOP (cooperative) and  ICA (like Wal-Mart).  You can make them on your own, since there is only a small metallic strip attached to the feathers so that they can be tied to the birch branches.  And the best part about this is that birch branches are put in water.  With weeks, they fill up with new leaves and you can remove the feathers and enjoy the new leaves.  

The above two pictures are from outside of the gym. 

The orange and white ones were in the lobby of one large hall.  Women, wherever they are, ensure seasonal beauty abounds us. 

The above picture is from my table at home.  The little doll that you see is actually a Häxa, a witch.  A colleague sold these homemade dolls.  The feathers that you see is supposed to be her broom.  Lena, made these dolls for every season.  This one was for Påsk---easter!!  I got this my first easter in the country. 

The above picture is from my dinning table.  I used some old branches 

In the US I used to change message to my answering machine according to the season.  Music and tone would change. I remember using a bird song for spring.  My sister would call and say, 'Man, it seems like I have entered a forest'.  For late spring,  around April, I would use Aaron Copland's Appalachian spring (Listen to 18:55 onwards, especially after 19:25, and the again at 20:00)that was the section I used, listen to it or Vivaldi's Spring (this one starts strong from the very beginning, it hits you with a tonne of bricks and you will like you are in love) from four seasons. 

Here --now that answering machines are all passe ---I change the decoration on the door about 3-4 times a year.  Here you see my spring decoration.  A specially abled boy came to sell this to my door---so, had to get it--to brighten my day and his. 

The sky is bluer and the water is flowing.  Taken in early March 2020. 

See those chairs, yes, that is Sweden's idea of recreating 'stranded'-- the beach. 

There is something so beautiful about light in Sweden.  This was taken in the evening, in March.  As the days get longer, the light gets brighter.  But in March-April and Sept-October, during the transition time, there is a transparent quality to the sky. And lights look so very beautiful in the evening, even when we can do without them. 

The row of houses across two streets from where I live.  Often go here for walks. You must have seen it in other blog posts here. Or you can click here to see some old pics along with a video--link to which is provided in the post. 

Look carefully, it is not a "wrong shot"

Very intentional.  The folks are putting out outdoor eating areas and creating a garden in the glass-house-like restaurants.  I had to get this one. 

Hope wherever you are, that your spring is beautiful.  Share your pics, if you wish!!

Gott Nytt År, Och God Försättning

 That is how you wish someone a very happy new year.  Gott, means, nice, and delicious........

So, it means have a great new year, and good continuation. I love that expression. 

I went to my neighbours house and they were playing this movie.....such a winter mood...had to get a clip...

My neighbour has a big collection of snow globes

She also always has candles lit, which I used to as well....although this season has been crazy...

Hmmmmm...ginger bread cookies and candy cane....larger than life, what else can spell holiday season_

I got gifts too, my friend Ann got me two handmade gifts from a Karlstad artist.  Beautiful style gloves and a ceramic cow....I will get pictures of them here next time...

Wishing you all a very happy new year and good continuation....

En Riktigt God Jul: A Really Merry Christmas

 Hi Folks, I will write the explanations later, but for now, enjoy these. Went to visit my neighbour and her house was lit up......really looked like Christmas!!