Celebrating Easter Scandinavian Style: 3 Unique Traditions from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark

What’s your idea of Easter? Bunnies? Roast lamb? Big family meals? Sure. But that’s not where the story ends — at least not in the Nordic countries. Up in Scandinavia, things take a more unexpected (and a bit quirky) turn.

Forget the usual egg hunt — Scandinavians need more thrill. Around here, Easter means secrets, suspense, and stories that keep you guessing. Let’s explore!

In most countries, Easter is a time for peace and reflection. In Norway? It’s prime time for crime. Påskekrim literally means Easter crime, and it refers to the national obsession with reading (or watching) murder mysteries during the Easter holiday. 

We’re talking crime novels stacked on supermarket shelves next to marzipan eggs. Special TV crime dramas airing during Easter. Even milk cartons printed with mini detective stories. Yes — milk cartons.

Back in 1923, two Norwegian authors, Nordahl Grieg and Nils Lie, along with their publisher, came up with a clever publicity stunt to promote their new crime novel. The book’s title, “Bergenstoget plyndret i natt” (“The Bergen Train Robbed Last Night”), was printed as a mock news headline on the front page of the Aftenposten newspaper just before Easter. People thought it was real — and the book flew off the shelves.

Publishers took note. Soon, new crime stories started rolling out every Easter, and påskekrim became a thing.

Today, Norwegians associate Easter with cozy cabins (hytter), mountain hikes, and curling up with a good (crime) book. The holiday break is long — many people take off from Maundy Thursday to Easter Monday — so it’s perfect timing for a little fictional murder.

Though the origins of the tradition lie in reading crime novels, nowadays, crime movies and series are just as popular as books. TV stations release special påskekrim series or rerun classics. Streaming platforms have also jumped on board, and crime podcasts release Easter specials. Bookstores often set up entire påskekrim displays. 

In Norway, nothing says “Happy Easter” quite like a little murder mystery.

Easter witches? Yep, that’s a thing too. Just when you thought Easter crime in Norway was the wildest it gets!

But to be fair, Swedish Easter witches are actually pretty adorable.

In Sweden and parts of Finland, kids dress up as påskkärringar — Easter witches — with scarves, painted cheeks, and broomsticks. They go door to door handing out homemade cards or drawings and hoping for sweets in return.

This tradition has roots in old Swedish folklore, where Easter was believed to be a dangerous time full of supernatural activity. According to legend, witches (häxor or kärringar) would fly on their brooms to a place called Blåkulla (Blue Mountain) on Maundy Thursday to meet the devil for a wild witches’ feast. To protect themselves, villagers would light bonfires and fire guns into the air.

Over time, the fear faded, but the imagery stuck. By the 19th and early 20th century, children had started dressing up as witches. 

Nowadays, kids — mostly girls, but boys can join too — wear colorful clothes, smear red circles on their cheeks, and carry broomsticks and little baskets. Going door to door, they often leave homemade Easter cards at neighbors’ doors and wish them a Glad Påsk! (Happy Easter), hoping to receive some sweets in return.

It’s like Halloween… but in spring.

Well, not quite as suspenseful as Norwegian crime, but still! Gækkebreve are Denmark’s answer to the Easter egg hunt — with a poetic twist.

These are secret, rhyming letters traditionally sent by children to friends or relatives. The letter is decorated with spring motifs — like snowdrops (vintergækker, which is where the name comes from + breve — letters) — and the sender signs it with dots instead of their name. If the recipient can’t guess who it’s from, they owe the sender a chocolate egg!

The tradition dates back to the 19th century, though it likely evolved from earlier forms of romantic or humorous riddles. In fact, gækkebreve were once a kind of Easter prank — sent anonymously to fluster a crush or tease a friend.

Over time, it became more kid-friendly, with schools and families encouraging children to craft their own gækkebreve during the Easter season.

A proper gækkebrev is handmade, often cut like a paper snowflake or doily. It includes:

• A playful, rhyming poem (often a traditional verse)

• A drawing or decoration — like flowers, chickens, or bunnies

• Dots in place of the sender’s name (one dot per letter)

Example of a popular rhyming poem:

From secret letters to cozy crime scenes, Scandinavians definitely know how to add a little intrigue to their Easter holidays. Mystery is woven into the traditions, making the holiday feel a bit more exciting and unexpected. Who knew Easter could be this thrilling?