Swedish Easter Traditions Include Feathers, 'Hags' and of Course, Lots of Eggs!

Tomorrow marks the first day of Påsklov (the Easter Holidays) here in Sweden. 

You might be surprised to hear that easter is celebrated in Sweden, given that many are devout atheists. But actually, Easter is a big deal, even if the tradition is largely secular. Colourful feathers to appear on birch branches and little eggs are hung from twigs (as seen in my home above!). 

Although it might all look a bit different this year, usually the main 'eggcitement' (sorry!) starts on Skärtorsdagen (Maundy Thursday) when children dress up as Påskkäringor (Easter hags) and wander from door to door - wearing brightly coloured head scarves and faces painted with rosy cheeks and freckles  - asking for sweets (scroll down to the last picture in this post to see how cute they look!). 

Families gather on Påskafton (Easter Saturday - yes, they never can quite wait until the 'main day'!) and tuck into a smorgasbord of pickled herring, salmon, new potatoes, lamb, a cheese flan, various egg dishes as well as other delicacies - which is interspersed with singing as well as schnapps and beer. Post lunch games include egg rolling and 'egg picking' and of course, the children enjoy lots of chocolate delivered by the Påskhare (the Easter hare!). 

All in all, a really fun holiday.  

If you're looking for some pretty, yet simple ways to decorate your home this easter, here are few ideas: 

7 beautifully simple Easter craft ideas

My big easter DIY edit

Easter touches in a charming Swedish home

Also, you might like to whip up my favourite Swedish Easter dish: gubröra - it's great on crisp bread!

Oh, and for a fun touch on the easter table, try this easter bunny napkin idea!

What easter traditions do you have in your country?

I'm taking a few days off to spend a little time with my family and will be back again on Tuesday, 5th April. 

Wishing you all a wonderful week!  

Niki

PS the eggs in the picture are by Afro Art who sell some lovely easter decorations!

Photo: Niki Brantmark / My Scandinavian Home

Styling: Helen Sturesson

READ MORE...

5

Glad påsk! Our Favourite Easter Traditions and Decorating Inspiration

One of my favourite times of the year: Easter. A much-needed break that, for us, is all about soaking up the spring sunshine (hopefully!), relaxing with family, and enjoying a traditional Easter lunch. In Sweden, the main gathering takes place on Easter Saturday, or Påskafton, which is when families come together to eat copious amounts of egg-based dishes as well as salmon and potatoes, and welcome the season together.

In the Brantmark family, we always kick things off with our own little tradition—a morning sauna followed by a (very!) refreshing dip in the sea before sitting down to lunch. It’s the ultimate way to blow away the cobwebs and embrace the start of spring!

On Maundy Thursday, we might just get a little knock at the door from a påskkärring or two—children dressed up as Easter witches in colourful clothes, with painted cheeks and headscarves, going door to door offering drawings or Easter cards in exchange for sweets (a bit like Halloween, but much cuter!).

As always, homes and cottages are decorated with colourful feathers tied to birch twigs—påskris—(and this year I've even seen spotted bows as seen above in the home of Linnea Jirasek), bringing a burst of spring indoors.  You’ll also often spot little witches hanging in the windows, a charming tradition said to ward off evil spirits during the Easter weekend.

If you're on the lookout for a little Easter decorating inspiration, here are a few links you might enjoy:

7 beautifully simple easter craft ideas from Scandinavia

Pretty easter decorating ideas from minimalist to maximalist

Swedish easter traditions explained

And here are a few Scandinavian home tours with an easter touch: 

Easter touches in a charming Swedish home

A Danish home with easter touches

Fancy trying a typically Swedish starter/side dish? Here's my Gubbröra recipe. Got a sweet tooth? You can find the recipe for the yummy-looking carrot cake above here. 

I hope you have a lovely, relaxing Easter break. Glad Påsk! 

Niki

PS I'll be back Wednesday 24th April. 

Credits: 1. Linnea Jirasek, 2. Mandi Nelson, 3. carrot cake, 4. source uknown. 

READ MORE...

11

Easter Touches in our Cabin!

It's time for an easter break here in Sweden, and we're spending a few days up at the cottage. Here's a little sneak peek at what's on our table! 

Many Swedes hang decorative eggs from branches at easter time. It's also customary to attach feathers to twigs and branches outside - adding some much needed colour before the leaves and blossom appear! 

One of the highlights for me, is 'Semlor' - wheat buns filled with marzipan and whipped cream! A total calorie bomb, but worth every morsel! 

Other highlights include 'påskkärring' - children dressed as Easter witches with a headscarf, freckles and rosy cheeks, knocking on doors in a quest for sweets. Many also decorate their home with witches (no, that is not an example of one above. Just me!!). 

I found the 'witch' aspect so strange the first year I was in Sweden for Easter. I've since learnt that it was believed that on Maundy Thursday, evil was released into the world and witches would fly on their broomsticks to Blåkulla (you can see the island in my guide to island hopping in the Baltic). And many hang witches in the window as a symbol of this. Read more about the Swedish Easter this this post. 

Do you have any unusual Easter traditions in your country? 

Looking to decorate your home this Easter? Here are is some Scandinavian inspiration from the archives:

My big easter DIY edit

7 beautifully simple Easter craft ideas from Scandinavia

A danish home with Easter touches

Easter touches in a charming Swedish home

5 simple easter DIY ideas

One of my favourite easter recipes

Oh, and of course, it wouldn't be easter without sharing my bunny napkin ears trick for the table. 

I hope you have some relaxing days off and the sun shine's for you! See you next Monday! 

Glad Påsk! 

Niki

PS There is an exciting sneak peek in these photos of an 'anniversary' item that is set to launch soon. Can you guess which piece it is? I'll give you a clue: it's Danish. More to follow in a fortnight! 

READ MORE...

4

8 Pretty Easter Decorating ideas from Minimalist to Maximalist!

Easter in Sweden is a big event. Although the country is largely secular, the holiday offers a perfect excuse for families to gather in the spring sunshine (hopefully), eat some herring, egg based delicies and of course sing songs while downing akvavit! Afterwards, egg rolling is likely to take place in the village and if the children are lucky - the 'Påskhare' (Easter bunny) might just pay a visit and hide large paper eggs filled with sweets. 

But let's rewind. Before the big event, there's decorating to be done! The leaves haven't yet unfurled in Sweden, instead birch twigs are decorated with brightly coloured feathers or hung with decorative eggs. You might also see a witch on her broomstick in the window (Swedish legend has it that witches fly off to Blåkulla on Good Friday before returning on Påskafton (Easter Eve). And on Maundy Thursday, you might just receive a visit from a little witch with rosy cheeks and freckles, asking for sweets. You've been warned! 

Whether you believe in witches or not, why not decorate your home and the table with some pretty Scandinavian inspired Easter touches. Here are eight display ideas - from minimalist to maximalist! 

1 & 2. This pretty display above by Nordic stories mixes flowers with eggs for a delicate table setting (first picture and above). 

3. Swedish paper eggs don't need to be simple - as Ingrid Wenell shows with her dried flower and ribbon DIY idea on Lovely Life. 

4. Don't forget to stock up on carrots, in case the easter bunny shows up! I love this edible display idea created by Céleste Bouchayer and captued by Louis Gaillard for Marie Claire.  

5. Feeling dextrous? Cracked eggs filled with delicate spring flowers look so pretty hung from branches. 

6. Paper honeycombe eggs also look lovely hung from a branch as seen in this pictures via My Life From Home. I've seen similar eggs in H&M Home. 

7. In the mood for some serious DIY decorating? This flower and egg display from Metro Mode is beautiful! See the step by step guide here. 

8. or why not go all out with eggs, flowers, paper decor and anything else you can find like Miss Kitten Heart - for a centrepiece that will put a smile on everyone's face! 

So pretty! I particularly love the edible carrot idea and the flowers in eggs. Is there anything you might try this year? Looking at these pictures, do you feel like a decorating minimalist or maximalist? 

And do you have any unusual easter traditions in your country? If so, please share as I'd love to hear about them. 

If you'd like to see more decorating ideas, check out: 

My big easter DIY edit

6 beautiful easter craft ideas from scandinavia

Swedish easter traditions and inspiration 

A danish home with easter touches

Easter touches in a charming Swedish home

I'll be taking a short break over the easter holiday and back Tuesday 2nd April. I hope you have a relaxing week! 

Niki 

READ MORE...

2

7 Beautifully Simple Easter DIY Craft Ideas From Scandinavia

Easter is a few days away (here in Scandinavia it's one day earlier since they celebrate on Påskafton (Easter Saturday). This year, we may not be able to enjoy large family gatherings, and some traditions may need to be put on hold for another year, but we sure can decorate our homes and bring a pretty touch that will put a smile on our faces! So, if you feel like a little Påskpyssla (Easter crafting), here are 7 of my favourite beautifully simple DIY ideas from Scandinavia, with love: 

1. Eggs with crowns: Boiled eggs with happy faces and pretty crowns like these ones by Norwegian Engla Monica Strand are sure to light up everyone's faces come Easter Day morning! 

2. Naturally dyed eggs: Get creative with the contents of your food cupboard and dye your eggs all kinds of natural colours for a pretty display like Swedish stylist and florist Malin Björkholm. Check out this guide on how to make natural dye. 

3. Hang paper eggs from branches: Follow this YouTube guide to make pretty 3D paper eggs and hang them from branches like Elin Wallin. 

 4. Wire feathers to branches: channel a popular Swedish tradition and wire colourful feathers to birch branches for a pretty display like Swedish set designer Marianne Wikner!

5. Make an Easter wreath: Decorate your door or brighten up a corner of your home with a beautiful Easter wreath like this pretty one by Kristin Østebø. This YouTube tutorial offers a great step by step guide. 

6. Get crafting with leftover wallpaper: It's amazing what you can create with leftover wallpaper. Malin Mörner shares a lovely DIY here (remember her Christmas wallpaper DIY?!) and Frida Andersson has created pretty birds for a flight of fancy display! The original DIY for these birds is in the book Hidden Places - but if you haven't got time to pick up a copy, I reckon you could wing it (see what I did there?!) by using a bird template for the body and the DIY from Christmas Snöblomma for the wings. 

7. Brighten up your home with paper daffodils! Take a leaf (sorry!) out of Helen Lyth's book and make these pretty paper daffodils. You can find a step by step guide here (it's in Swedish but there's always good old google translate!). 

I hope these ideas have given you some inspiration for your home this Easter. 

Are there any that caught your eye? 

You can find more Easter crafting ideas here: 

My Big Easter DIY Edit

5 Beautifully Simple Ester DIY Ideas

Easter touches in a charming Swedish home

Wishing you a lovely day friends!

Niki

First picture by Anne Lemonfox and last picture by Malin Mörner

READ MORE...

4

Have a Lovely Easter Weekend!

I hope you all have a relaxing break planned over the easter holidays. My mother's coming over from London this evening and we'll be heading to Per's Dad's for easter, where the day will kick off with a sauna and dip in the sea - before egg rolling and an easter lunch! 

If you'd like to add some last minute easter touches to your home, here are some DIY ideas: 

6 beautifully simple Easter DIY craft ideas from Scandinavia

Easter touches in a charming Swedish home

And here's a recipe for a simple but delicious dish I make every easter. 

I wrote a little about Swedish Easter traditions last year (in case you're curious). What easter traditions do you have in your country? 

See you Tuesday 19th April. 

Niki

Photography: Malin Mörner

READ MORE...

1

My big Easter DIY egg edit

Do you have any Easter holiday traditions? Every year the girls and I come to London to spend it with my parents (P stays behind in Sweden to get our boat ready for the season, which is actually one of the highlights of his year - men?!). Besides the annual Easter egg hunt (we like the trail at Ham House), the girls and I also love to decorate the home with handmade pieces. This year we're taking inspiration from these fab eggs (and a bunny napkin for the easter table - how cute is that?!)....

Will you be making any of these?! 

Just in case, here's how:

1 and 2: Love the cute bunny ear tiaras by Zwo:ste
3: Girl.Inspired made these fab eggs with gold glitter.
4, 5: The talented Elisabeth Heier describes how to make these pretty gold eggs here. And pretty eggs with feathers.
5: I'm loving these glam 'pendant' eggs by Lene Bjerre
6: These delicate flowers in egg shells are so simple yet so pretty.
6: This year's 'marble' effect eggs by Nina Holst
7:  Find out how to make these bunny napkins here.

Other Easter holiday links I love:

Easter DIY ideas from Sweden (that 'black egg' table decoration). 

Beautiful linen for your Easter table (buy similar here - or how about this linen one with ruffles - I know?!) 

Free printable Star Wars Easter Bunny Boxes.

Easter carrot cake, and the most delicious looking maple dijon roasted carrots. 

Veggie Easter 'nest' recipe.

Have an eggcellent (eh hem) day.....Back tomorrow with one of my usual home tours!

READ MORE...

6

A Danish Home With Easter Touches

Looking to get into the easter spirit? Mette Norrild has filled her 1970s house on the Danish island of Fyn with pastel hues, spring flowers (including Forsythia, cherry blossom and Magnolia) and pretty Easter touches. Oh, and don't miss the quirky details like artisan mugs, colourful glassware and twisted candles - they add such a fun touch! Here are a few snapshots to feel inspired by this weekend: 

So many pretty ideas!

Decorative mugs have become such a big thing in Denmark lately that I feel tour requires a roundup! 

From top left: Royal Copenhagen, Studio Palu (twisty handle), Krøllet Keramik (with cherries, sweets etc), Les Gens Heureux (pointed handle / splashes). 

It's made me want to start decorating my home this weekend, how about you? 

If you're curious about where any of the items are from, Mette's great at tagging her photos on instagram. 

For other pastel homes see:

A delightful family home in a converted Swedish schoolhouse

An inspiring pastel-infused Finnish apartment

Danica's Danish home in cotton candy shades

And for some great easter decorating ideas take a look at: 

Swedish Easter traditions

7 beautifully simple Scandinavian craft ideas for easter

My big easter DIY edit

I hope this post has put you in the mood for the easter holidays! My girls break up tomorrow so we're looking forward to decorating the house a little. Maybe the rain / snow / everything the swedish weather gods wants to throw at us will clear up at some point too! 

Do you decorate your home for Easter? If so, I'd love to hear about your decorating traditions! 

Have a great weekend! 

Niki

Photography: Mette Norrild / @mettenorrild, shared with kind permission

READ MORE...

4