Lesson plan
Easter witch
Easter witches ( , , , Finland , , , ) is an old Swedish legend about witches flying to Blockula ( , Blå Jungfrun) on brooms on the Thursday before Easter (Maundy Thursday, :sv:Skärtorsdagen) or on the night between the Wednesday (Holy Wednesday, :sv:Dymmelonsdag) and Thursday before, and returning on Easter. It is uncertain when the tradition of dressing up as witches began in Sweden, but the custom was widespread in western Swedish cities by the mid-19th century. Therefore, the first Easter witches probably date from the late 18th century. Easter witches were most commonly reported from Bohuslän, Dalsland, Värmland and parts of Västergötland, and it was mainly during the evening of Holy Saturday that they went door to door. Originally, it was adults and young people who dressed up as Easter witches, but over time it became more of a children's tradition. In the modern era, children dress up as witches, old ladies or in old men's clothing and go door to door distributing greetings and often receiving treats in return. In Finland, the Easter witch custom (virvonta) comes from the old Karelian Orthodox Christian tradition, and is observed on Palm Sunday.
Article summary
Easter witches ( , , , Finland , , , ) is an old Swedish legend about witches flying to Blockula ( , Blå Jungfrun) on brooms on the Thursday before Easter (Maundy Thursday, :sv:Skärtorsdagen) or on the night between the Wednesday (Holy Wednesday, :sv:Dymmelonsdag) and Thursday before, and returning on Easter. It is uncertain when the tradition of dressing up as witches began in Sweden, but the custom was widespread in western Swedish cities by the mid-19th century. Therefore, the first Easter witches probably date from the late 18th century. Easter witches were most commonly reported from Bohuslän, Dalsland, Värmland and parts of Västergötland, and it was mainly during the evening of Holy Saturday that they went door to door. Originally, it was adults and young people who dressed up as Easter witches, but over time it became more of a children's tradition. In the modern era, children dress up as witches, old ladies or in old men's clothing and go door to door distributing greetings and often receiving treats in return. In Finland, the Easter witch custom (virvonta) comes from the old Karelian Orthodox Christian tradition, and is observed on Palm Sunday.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.