The Easter Witch
Walking on Drumsö – Lauttasaari on Maundy Thursday I saw something odd on a roof of the little café by the road just before the bridge to central Helsinki. After all it was Maundy Thursday so what should you expect but an easter witch. These pictures are taken in Finland but they have the same traditions as Sweden. In Sweden children, mostly girls or almost always girls dress like the easter witch and go from door to door with a basket of candy. They often get a candy or a coin on their tour, much like children do on Halloween in countries that have that tradition. Well this witch sat still on the roof of the café with her broom and her black cat. Otherwise it was as you see a grey day and cold as well.
These pictures are taken on Drumsö or Lauttasaari in Helsinki in Finland. In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: Landscape
Wow that is really something for somebody from a Catholic country…! An Easter witch !
I imagine she must be benevolent. Interesting.
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Thank you! She is as least benevolent today, as small children dress up on easter. But there were witch hunts in the Nordic countries as well with several people executed. I realise i know too little about the tradition but read on Wikipedia that it wasn´t common until the 19th century in Sweden and Finland. It is funny that you sometimes don´t know very much about the traditions you grow up with. I wish you a good weekend!
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You give me a panorama of places that I get to know even without going there. And now tradition too. ( We burned witches in Catholic countries too. And in Italy too a benevolent witch survives. She brings candies to good children on January 6.)
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Thank you!
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You have given me some food for thought. I wonder if the witch that gives away candy on January sixth in Italy have the same origin as the easter witch in the Nordic countries. Sweden was a catholic country until the 16th century when a king decided that the state religion in Sweden should be lutheran. And people didn´t get to choose their religion, everybody had to be lutheran protestants. So maybe the idea of a generous witch has the same origin. Thanks for letting me know and learn more. I wish you a great day!
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What a wonderful tradition!
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Thank you! Happy weekend!
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I love the Easter witch photo also.
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Thank you! Happy weekend!
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How cool, I have never seen this and haven’t actually known to look for it either 🙂
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Thank you! It is a tradition in Sweden and Finland during easter especially thursday in Easter week. I wish you a good week!
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Cool urban landscape!
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Thank you! I wish you a good week!
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