Travel to Scandinavia during the Easter holidays and find countries filled with the energy of Spring!
Easter in Iceland begins with Holy Thursday when generally all businesses are closed. However, movie theaters remain open on the Icelandic Easter holidays. A lot of people go out of town that day for a short trip, and return home after Easter. Sweden's Easter traditions indicate that the family feast is on Easter Saturday (Holy Saturday) - not on Sunday, as in the other countries. Denmark's Easter traditions include a fish or lamb feast and anonymous letters. Finland's Easter traditions combine traditional beliefs with lots of children's
fun.
ches, paint their faces to match, and on Saturday morning, go door to door in a version of trick-or-treat, exchanging the willows for sweets, small toys or coins.---
Chocolate eggs are not delivered by the more famous Easter bunny, but a rooster, and eggs may be hidden around the house or under the bed. In most parts of Finland, it would be still too cold to go out to hunt for Easter eggs in the garden. The garden might be covered in snow, anyway.There is a unique Danish Easter tradition: The custom of sending teaser letters. A few weeks before Easter (begun on Valentine's Day?), Danes cut out letters on which they write a secret poem.
They send the letter anonymously and only sign it with dots for their name. If the recipient can guess or find out who sent the Easter poem, he or she receives a reward in form of an egg at Easter. A quite peculiar national trait in Norway is solving crimes during Easter. Publishers churn out series of books known as "Easter-Thrillers" or Påskekrimmen.
al vestments have changed from somber to bright colors that serve to adorn the worship space, calling attention to the nature of the season or festival being celebrated. Blue is used for its references to "hope". It originated in Scandinavia, -probably because purple dye was too expensive for churches to use. This being Holy Week, Clerical stoles , the neck-piece or scarf-like cloth represents the color of the season
s in the Church Year with appropriate Christian symbols adorning it. Ash Wednesday has black being the preferred color, since it is the color of the ashes to which we will all return. Purple is the alternate color for this day. Scarlet is the preferred color of this first day of Holy Week, as it suggests the deep color of blood.
For the fourth day of Holy Week, Maundy Thursday is celebrated as the institution of the Lord’s Supper, and vestments will be scarlet or white .
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Early European clergy wore basic black, often with a “Ruff Collar”. The “ruff” or collar is peculiar to the Danes and Norwegian customs.
It was the badge of the nobility, later of the king’s appointees. The Swedes and Germans do not seem to have worn the “ruff". While this collar diminished in size, it probably was most uncomfortable until it was replaced in time.
These Norwegian clergy are gathered at a funeral. Note the ruff collars in this grainy photo taken long ago.
fun.
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Easter in Finland is a mix of traditions brought together for the religious festival. Borrowed from an old spring festival are the cutting and decorating of pussy willows. On Palm Sunday, children around Finland dress up as wit
ches, paint their faces to match, and on Saturday morning, go door to door in a version of trick-or-treat, exchanging the willows for sweets, small toys or coins.---
Chocolate eggs are not delivered by the more famous Easter bunny, but a rooster, and eggs may be hidden around the house or under the bed. In most parts of Finland, it would be still too cold to go out to hunt for Easter eggs in the garden. The garden might be covered in snow, anyway.There is a unique Danish Easter tradition: The custom of sending teaser letters. A few weeks before Easter (begun on Valentine's Day?), Danes cut out letters on which they write a secret poem.
They send the letter anonymously and only sign it with dots for their name. If the recipient can guess or find out who sent the Easter poem, he or she receives a reward in form of an egg at Easter. A quite peculiar national trait in Norway is solving crimes during Easter. Publishers churn out series of books known as "Easter-Thrillers" or Påskekrimmen.
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Here, in the USA, Easter Bunnies deliver eggs and candy in a basket while many adults attend church services. Churches are filled with color and joy of the Resurrection. Cleric
al vestments have changed from somber to bright colors that serve to adorn the worship space, calling attention to the nature of the season or festival being celebrated. Blue is used for its references to "hope". It originated in Scandinavia, -probably because purple dye was too expensive for churches to use. This being Holy Week, Clerical stoles , the neck-piece or scarf-like cloth represents the color of the season
s in the Church Year with appropriate Christian symbols adorning it. Ash Wednesday has black being the preferred color, since it is the color of the ashes to which we will all return. Purple is the alternate color for this day. Scarlet is the preferred color of this first day of Holy Week, as it suggests the deep color of blood.
For the fourth day of Holy Week, Maundy Thursday is celebrated as the institution of the Lord’s Supper, and vestments will be scarlet or white .
-----------------------------------------------------
Early European clergy wore basic black, often with a “Ruff Collar”. The “ruff” or collar is peculiar to the Danes and Norwegian customs.
It was the badge of the nobility, later of the king’s appointees. The Swedes and Germans do not seem to have worn the “ruff". While this collar diminished in size, it probably was most uncomfortable until it was replaced in time.
These Norwegian clergy are gathered at a funeral. Note the ruff collars in this grainy photo taken long ago.--------------------------------------
Wherever you may be, we wish you the very best of Easter Greetings!
Happy Easter!
ReplyDeleteI’ll have to look for one of those Easter Thrillers! Strange way of celebrating with the kids dressing up. What do they do at Halloween? No pussy willows around here yet.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter to you both!