The symbols, the food, the traditions, starting on Palm Sunday.
Easter in Swedish is called psk and comes from the Hebrew word pesah meaning passing. Easter and its preceding holy days have a unique history in Sweden - www.nordstjernan.com/news/traditions/6318/ It is a decidedly yellow season. The yellow color has nothing to do with the liturgical colors for Easter, which are black, white and violet. No, Easter's yellow comes from the fact that many of the symbols we have for Easter seem to be yellow (as opposed to Christmas for instance, which is red): the feathers, the daffodils and the chickens on the Easter cards. Still checking all of the numbers but 1,500 tons herring, 2,000 tons of eggs and SEK 1.5 billion on flowers ... Easter, is in Sweden a serious holiday for sure. Keep track of things Swedish, in Sweden and in the U.S. by subscribing to The Swedish Newspaper in America - www.nordstjernan.com/subscribe (Become part of a growing Swedish American family. Nordstjernan, doorway to a Sweder life; fun, food, trivia, traditions and current events.)
Pskgget
The Easter egg (pskgget) is a paper or plastic egg with pictures of chickens on it, which gets filled with candy and is given to children. Since Swedes dont have an Easter Bunny in their celebration, these eggs are very important to children. But the egg is also the main Easter symbol in that it embodies the message of death and resurrection. The eggs shell is a symbol of the grave, and what it contains is a symbol of new life, the chicken growing inside eventually opens its own grave and walks out. How to create beautiful Easter eggs - www.nordstjernan.com/news/traditions/4417/
Pskris
The colorful twigs with feathers (pskris) that you see everywhere in Sweden at this time of year, has less jolly implications. Bound by birch twigs, the pskris was in the 17th century used for Long Fridays flagellation. Today you buy it at the local market and tie colorful feathers to it. You can also decorate your pskris with blown out eggs that you dye yourself, or you can buy plastic eggs. Roosters, hens, chickens and witches are also used to decorate not only the pskris but your house as well.
Pskkrringar
The pskkrring or pskakrring, is an old tradition that has its roots in the activities of Maundy Thursday. According to folklore, all the worlds bad spirits were let lose the instant Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus. During the 17th century the belief in the devil created witch hunts, and women (mostly) were executed for having participated in the banquet of the devil on Maundy Thursday. Where did it all take place? On the island of Blkulla (also known as Bl Jungfrun) situated in the Kalmar Strait of the Baltic Sea. The witches flew there on brooms. Swedish children dress up like pskkrringar complete with grandmas dress, apron and a kerchief tied under the chin, they paint rosy cheeks and freckles on their faces and therefore dont much resemble the American picture of a witch. A pskkrring also carries a broom, an old-fashioned coffee pot and a basket, and walks around the neighborhood, Halloween-style, giving out drawings in exchange for candy. When this tradition began is hard to tell, it seems it started in western Sweden some time in the beginning of the 1800s.
Food for Easter
Each region or landskap in Sweden has its own traditions when it comes to what to eat for Easter, but most of the dishes include eggs, lamb and salmon. Unlike the food we eat for Christmas, Easter food is much lighter and almost always includes marzipan and candy-filled Easter eggs for dessert. Theres also the pskbord (Easter smorgasbord) with eggs, pickled herrings, salmon and Janssons temptation. Here's a brief with links to some of the more common dishes for the Easter table: Swedish Food; gravlax, herring.. Pskmust is also sold in stores; its the same soft drink as julmust.
Marzipan egg recipe
Making eggs out of marzipan isnt that difficult. All you need is basic marzipan.
Ingredients for Basic Marzipan
2 cups sugar
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
4 cups ground almonds (or almond flour)
2 egg whites
powdered sugar for dusting
1. Prepare a workspace by sprinkling powdered sugar over a marble slab, wooden cutting board or large baking sheet. Fill your sink or a large bowl with cold water.
2. Place the sugar and 2/3 cup water in a large heavy saucepan and heat gently, stirring, until the sugar dissolves.
3. Add the cream of tartar and turn up the heat. Bring to a boil and cover, boiling for 3 minutes.
4. Uncover and boil until the temperature reaches soft-ball stage, 240 degrees on a candy thermometer.
5. Place the bottom of the saucepan in the cold water youve prepared, stirring the sugar mixture constantly until it becomes thick and creamy.
6. Stir in the ground almonds and the egg whites, then place back over low heat and stir for 2 minutes more until the mixture is thick.
7. Spoon the marzipan onto your prepared work surface, and turn it with a metal spatula until it cools down enough to touch.
8. Coat your hands in powdered sugar and begin to knead the marzipan, working it until it is smooth and pliant.
9. Your marzipan can be used immediately or stored by wrapping it in plastic wrap and keeping it in an airtight container.
Now that you have marzipan you can make pskgg (Easter eggs) or other figures with a little bit of yellow food dye and baking chocolate (approximately 100 g). Melt the chocolate. Just use a few drops of the food dye. Shape little eggs of the marzipan, then dip in melted chocolate. Let cool in the fridge.