Påsk

I can't claim to understand Easter here, but I do enjoy its color. Göteborg is attempting to shed its post-winter gray with flowers and color. The market is coming alive, it is a good reflection of the mood in this town recently.


(Mattias)

I think a full understanding of this holiday would involve someone well versed in the combination of Christian and rural traditions...Birch boughs trimmed with feathers? Witches collecting candy? Eggs everywhere? etc. I like the feathers...it's very festive.


There are similarities of Easter back home, but the Swedes seem to enjoy this Holiday much more than my experience. They take a big chunk of time off, eat a lot of candy, and relax...a number of people mentioned to me this week that they prefer Easter to Christmas as it is so relaxed and laid back...hang out with family and enjoy the coming of Spring! Maybe it is similar to why I prefer Thanksgiving to Christmas, more laid back...(and at Thanksgiving I am usually thinking about upcoming skiing or skating...)

This candy filled egg was a gift from Mattias, Annie and Ivar--clearly Swedish as where else would a birch tree be a part of the 'farm scene'? (Minnesota?) It has been fun to watch people on the street with their candy bags...there is a type of candy store here that has very distinctive blue and green bags...just as you can see who has purchased alcohol by the bag, you can spot the candy shoppers too (and they are everywhere).

I am spending my Easter weekend, thus far, reading about the conflict with wolves in Sweden...and studying my stats. Not very Swedish (i.e. relaxing and laid back!), but it feels good to be making progress with my studies. But truth be told, I am wishing I was up North...The tradition there is to go skiing over Easter (probably what Maggan is doing!?)...that sounds quite good to me...but I'll have to settle for a long hike tomorrow.