According to Swedish Folklore, Maundy Thursday was time for Swedish witches (häxor) to grab their broomsticks and fly off to celebrate the witches' sabbath. Holy Saturday was time to fly back home to attend Easter Sunday service with everyone else in the village, but be careful not to say your prayers backward. That would be a sure way to be identified as a witch.

Getting too old to fly at night on that rickety old broom? Consider a more modern form of transportation and join us, as we welcome Amber Rose, Ph.D. Candidate in Scandinavian Studies-Folklore, at UW-Madison and Asst. Acquisitions Editor with University of Wisconsin Press. Hear the story of Swedish witches in the period 1450-1700.

We'll end with an exploration of today's contemporary tradition of Swedish witches at Easter time with fika. And who knows, we may even have an Easter witch or two in attendance at the meeting.

Redemption Lutheran Church is just at Hwy 100, just north of Capitol Dr. in Wauwatosa, WI