Vintage Finnish/Swedish Easter Witches With Their Cats by Layla Morgan Wilde
The lighter version of Halloween witches is celebrated today with Easter Witches from Sweden and Finland. I curated, restored and edited a vintage collection of postcards dating from the turn of the century to mid-century depicting Easter witches and their cats. The witches are depicted as more friendly than evil, smiling and happily sipping on cups of tea or coffee with their cats of all colors, not just black. The witches and their anything but evil looking familiars are out for fun on their broomsticks. In later years, broomsticks morphed into other vehicles but usually headed to the mythical island of Blakulla.
In Sweden and Finland, on the Thursday before Easter Sunday, kids dress up as påskkärring (pohsk-shar-ing – Easter witches) wishing folks a “Glad Påsk!” (Swedish for Happy Easter) or in Finnish, “Hyvää Pääsiäistä”and in return, receive treats. It’s all good and no tricks.
In the 1800s adults dressed up as witches but gradually it became a kid’s holiday and time for family get togethers. These days children wear shawls and kerchiefs instead of pointy hats, carry copper pots instead of plastic cauldrons or pumpkins. The witch brooms are now pussy willow twigs. Sweden and Finland rank high in gender equality and boys can be witches too. The treats are regular Easter treats like chocolate eggs and bunnies but coins are given out as well.
Easter like all Christian holidays has pagan roots and the Easter witches tradition is a Pagan and Christian mash-up. Unlike the U.K. and Europe, Sweden and Finland largely escaped the impact of the 400 year-old witch hunt. By comparison, only a tiny percentage of accused witches (men and women) were killed. It may explain the friendly, less fear-based vibe of the witches and their continued pagan-based veneration of nature.
On a personal aside, my parents were born in Finland and I’m part Swedish. We had a copper kettle at home like those in the illustrations and yes, my first Halloween costume was a witch.
According to folklore, Easter witches travelled to the mythical Blåkulla (Blue Maiden Island) on their broomsticks with their cats on Maundy Thursday every year. The only problem is the mythical island actually exists and its supernatural power pre-dates Christianity. You can visit the small island called Bla Jungfrun aka Blakulla which is now a National Park.
There is evidence of Stone Age ritual, unusual caves and a stone labyrinth. The island has long been linked with tales of witchcraft, supernatural powers, curses and used by sailors to predict the weather. According to local legend anyone who removes stones from the island would be cursed for life with bad luck. Every year, tourists in hindsight empty their stolen pockets of rocks which are then returned to the island. Superstitions die hard.
Folklore suggests in order to prevent witches from using their broomsticks at this time of year, people used to hide them, light fires, close off their chimneys and sometimes fire guns into the air to scare off the witches. Vintage illustrations often show the witches running into humorous situations on their broom.
While the witches all appear to be women, they are literally in the driver’s seat. As new technology developed, the automobile made way for airplanes.
This looks like way more fun than Halloween.
Men play a secondary role with the women enjoying themselves and in this case, kissing the chimney sweep.
In a reverse kind of Santa Claus, the Easter Witch goes up the chimney instead of down.
Cultural changes and politics influenced later designs. This is the only card I could find with a dog. A Sputnik-era cold war aversion to Communism? What do you think is going on?
Today no one hides their brooms but bonfires and fireworks are lit for vestiges of witchy revelry. It’s a fun part of holy week. It’s no surprise the Swedes and Finns (myself included) have a sweet tooth and Finland has the world’s highest per capita consumption of coffee.
Happy Easter to everyone celebrating and a happy Passover to our Jewish friends and readers celebrating their first seder tomorrow.
Easter witches? We never knew, so it was so fun and interesting to learn about them and to see these cool vintage postcards! We hope you are well, dear friends. Happy Easter Hugs!
So good of you to stop by dear friends.Hugs xoxo
I love seeing the postcards! This is a real eye opener and so much fun to just browse through!
Marjorie, I was just thinking of you! Aren’t these a hoot?
Great article! I have Swedish ancestors but never heard of this. It is fun and fascinating! I love the 1st card and it looks like the cat is hanging on for dear life! Thanks, Layla!
Thanks Sally.I’m amazed what an eye-opener this topic was. Since posting, I learned more about what the modern day “little witches” for an in depth look next year.
Great post! Informative and interesting!
Hi Terri,so nice to see you stop by. I thought this would intrigue you. Happy Easter xoxo
What an interesting post! I had no idea that there were Easter witches. The cards are lovely and the first is my favourite.
I thought you might have known given your travels there but I guess this is a best kept secret 😉 xoxox
Great post. Sweden and Finland are two of my favourite countries. Have visited Sweden many times but I’d love to go to Finland one day.
Purrs xx
Athena and Marie
Thanks Marie. You must visit Finland then. I’m planning to visit this summer.
What a nice post! Always learning something here for sure. The cards are beautiful and I as many had no clue about Easter witches. Thanks to Catio tales for the very neat thing the kids say- very fun!
Whoa! This is new to me AND exciting. I saw those two cats hissing at each other on one of the cards.
It’s a thrill to introduce something new. And yeah, they were hissing like most passengers do in long line ups 🙂
I had NO idea there were Easter witches! I love this tradition, and so does my human.
I’m so glad to share new cats info.
Very interesting post. I love the card with the pussy willows. Chag Sameach and Happy Easter!
Thanks Ellen, there is actually aspects of the traditions that dovetail with Passover. I love to find what unites cat lovers globally.
We’ve never heard of Easter Witches before. We’re glad they’re friendly ones.
Most people haven’t and yes, much friendlier than the stereotypical Halloween witches.
So COOL!!!! You give us the best info on the unusual! This is so neat.
We think the poor dog looks more like a rat!
Happy Easter to all the Witches and their lovely Cats everywhere. All Cat lovers have a little of the Witch in them don’t ya know.
Luvs
Skeeter and Izzy and the Feral Gang + Twig & Peanut & Romeo and the Angels >^..^^..^<~
So glad you enjoyed it! I thought so too about the dog. Truly the oddest one of the bunch. Much love to you and the gang xoxo
My grandparents are from Sweden, but I never heard about Easter witches. This was a fun post.
Thanks Edie. My parents didn’t overtly mention it either and I suspect the popularity has grown in recent years just as Halloween grew into the biggest holiday after Christmas.
Catio Tales, thank you for the cute poem! We like this tradition! It makes so much more sense than Jesus and his bunny!!! (And we’re still pondering why ham ? is the Easter meat, since lamb ? is the more obvious choice. )
Wow, this is incredible. None of us, I am thinking, ever knew any of this. Thanks so much. The cards are so lovely, and the traditions are fantastic. Glad Pask!
Ched agrees. He says he’s part Fin.
Ched must be pagan then 😉
Glad Pask to you and glad you enjoyed this unusual tradition xox
I love the easter witches… ha! now I have a reason to celebrate too LOL
Ha, I can imagine you on a broomstick! Happy Easter xoxo
What a wonderful post. I am in Finland and can vouch for the tradition being so much fun compared to Halloween. The local ‘witches’ visited last Sunday – the children dressed up and carried their willow twigs, decorated with feathers and things. They say a little rhyme (or spell) , wave their wands and in exchange for candy, they pass on their twigs. They make EXCELLENT cat toys.
The rhyme is : Virvon, varvon, tuoreeks terveeks, tulevaks vuodeks; vitsa sulle, palkka mulle!
which is:
I wave a twig, for a fresh and healthy year ahead; a twig for you, a reward for me!
What a fun tradition and poem/spell, thanks for sharing.
Kiitos! Thank you for the spell and the pussy willow toy idea. So they use the twigs as magic wands? I was hoping someone from Finland would stop by and I’m so happy you did. It’s interesting that the celebration is on a weekend in some places.
Excellent post!!! I had no idea.