Category: Swedish
Easter Witches in Sweden
Most Christian holidays have pagan roots and traditions, and Easter is no exception. In Sweden, it is said that this is the time of year that witches mounted their broomsticks and flew off to Blockulla – the mystical meadow where witches gathered to dance with the devil.
This piece of folklore is commemorated in Sweden [...] Read More »
The Maypole and other May Day Traditions
The beginning of May was an important feast day in many ancient cultures, a time to celebrate the coming of summer. The Druids of the British Isles thought that May 1, the Feast of Beltane, divided the year in half, with the other half ending on Samhain on November 1. Both days were celebrated by [...] Read More »
Expat: Swede in Saudi Arabia
We see many great blogs written by expatriates living in other cultures. When we find ones that we like, we will create a post and then list them on our new Expats page.
This Swedish-Lebanese family of five moved from Beirut to Saudi Arabia. The Swedish-born author blogs about her experiences as a woman [...] Read More »
Lucyfest: Santa Lucia’s Festival
On December 13th, one of the shortest, darkest days of winter, Sweden celebrates Lucyfest, in honor of Saint Lucia, the Queen of Lights, in a festival that also has roots in Italy, Germany and Norway. Traditionally, each village had its own Santa Lucia: a young woman, dressed in a white gown, wearing a red [...] Read More »
