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.

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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. 

Sheer Elegance

I took these images in 2017 or 2018 summer in New Rajindar Nagar, New Delhi, India. The women must either be returning from a temple ceremony or all of them work for a shop or something.

The uniformity of their outfits, the elegance with which they carried themselves, and the dainty way they pulled their sarees up to avoid dirtying them with rain water (it must have been July or early August, because it looks like the rainy season), was like a little haiku in action.

Had to click. Hope you like them. 

 

Jab Deep Jale Aaana--Come, When the lamps light up

First published on December 22, 2017, here it is again, as the evenings are just as beautiful...

and here is the link to the song, so you can hear its melody and simplicity....from the 1970s...songs in those days used to be based on light classical....Jab Deep Jale aana...

Jab Deep Jale Aaana--Come, When the lamps light up, is an old bollywood song, light-classical, I would say.  The song is a call to the beloved, for a rendezvous. In the dark the evening, no one would be able to tell them apart. 

But evenings in Sweden are utterly and sweetly romantic.  Not as in romance, but as in softness. The brightness of summer is harsh, the coziness of winter is simply warm, despite the crispness.  Its easy on the eyes and makes us aware of a longing that we become oblivious to in summer!!