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History and Traditions:
Holy Saturday, or 'Påskafton' in Swedish, is part of the Easter celebration and marks the day before Easter Sunday. It falls between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Historically, Holy Saturday commemorates the day Jesus Christ's body lay in the tomb after his death on the cross.
In Sweden, Holy Saturday was traditionally a time of quiet reflection and preparation for Easter Sunday's festivities. However, over time, some customs have evolved.
Modern Celebrations:
Easter Fires: In parts of Sweden, people light bonfires on Holy Saturday evening. This tradition stems from the belief that fires would ward off witches and evil spirits that were thought to be particularly active during Easter.
Easter Decorations: Swedes prepare for Easter by decorating their homes with birch twigs (påskris) adorned with colorful feathers and small decorations. This is also done on Holy Saturday as part of getting ready for the next day's celebrations.
Egg Painting: Decorating eggs is a common activity where families engage in painting and coloring eggs. These decorated eggs are often used in Easter Sunday's meals or egg hunts.
Children's Activities: Children may dress up as 'påskkärringar' (Easter witches) earlier in the Holy Week, but some activities may still occur on Holy Saturday. They go from house to house in their neighborhoods giving out drawings and artwork in hopes of receiving sweets in return, similar to Halloween trick-or-treating.
Religious Observances:
For those who observe religious traditions, Holy Saturday may involve attending an evening church service known as the Easter Vigil. This service typically marks the end of Lent and begins late on Holy Saturday night, extending into Easter Sunday morning. The vigil includes lighting of candles symbolizing Jesus Christ’s resurrection from darkness into light.
Overall, while not as festively marked as other days during Easter week in Sweden, Holy Saturday serves as a transitional day of preparation leading into the celebratory events of Easter Sunday.
