Easter Witches???

Several years ago, I visited Sweden the week before and after Easter. April in Northern Sweden is very different to anything I’ve ever seen in Alabama. The little town was Sundsvall (pronounced send'sval). When my airplane landed the first thing I noticed was about 6 feet of snow on the ground and soon thereafter I was greeted by a kind gentleman, my English speaking business friend Manginus Soderstrum. Manginus drove me to Sunds Defibrator where the employees were hosting a luncheon in my honor and served ‘American Cheeseburgers’ (they were horrible) It was a nice gesture but to tell the truth I thought it was funny since I was there to sell them something. Afterward he drove me to my hotel, Sundsvall's Hotel Stenstan (nice place).

Later that night several of us ate dinner together at a lodge atop one of the local mountains and feasted on Reindeer… yes “Rudolph”. After dinner a group of small children came into the restaurant dressed as hags and singing a song to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and asking for candy. I was really confused. Is this Easter or Halloween? I asked Manginus; what’s up with the kids and why are there “Easter Witches”???? He told me about Easter and Easter Witches.

See, mainly in Sweden and Finland on Easter Eve and in some regions in Sweden on Maundy Thursday, children dress up as 'Easter hags' and much like the American Halloween, go door to door begging for treats which are placed in the copper kettles that they carry. The tradition of children dressing up in costume for Easter dates back to the early 1800’s in both Sweden and Finland; however, the association between Easter and witches began much earlier. In a Swedish church in Uppland, there is a painting from 1480 portraying three Easter witches holding out their drinking horns to be filled by the Devil with a magic potion. It was believed that on Maundy Thursday, witches flew off to Brocken Mountain for a rendezvous with the Devil. There they feasted and danced to the singing of magpies. On Sunday morning they would fly back arriving just in time for church services where they might accidentally reveal their identities by saying their prayers backwards.

After dinner that night I asked Manginus why haven’t I seen anything about Christ, His Death and the Resurrection? He told me that Easter had nothing to do with religion it was all about “Witches”. WOW… that answer surprised me, but it gave me a wonderful opportunity to share the word with him as we drove back into town. I don’t know if Manginus became a believer or excepted Christ as his savior, but I’m sure he had plenty of things to think about after our conversation.

Today is Easter eve. Ask yourself as you prepare for tomorrow; is it about Bunnies, Eggs and Easter baskets or even Witches or is it Christ Resurrection?

I know that it's importiant our chrildren enjoy Easter candy but take a moment maybe even take them to Church so they can learn the true message of Easter.
Note: Listen close and make sure the old lady next to you in Church isn't saying her prayers backwards. :)