Good Friday, Good Witches

I was going to post about the tradition of Scandinavian Easter witches, but then I realized that Red Witch over at the Sexy Witch blog (NSFW) has pretty much written most of what there is to write on the subject. Although she is a bit over eager to find sexy depictions of what is today a pastime for children, she has some interesting notes on the history of the tradition:

[...] since at least the beginning of the nineteenth century Swedish youths have dressed themselves as ‘påskkäringar’ (Easter witches) or ‘påsktroll’ (Easter trolls). Some ‘mummers’ would visit neighbours, leaving a small decorated card, with a verse inviting the recipient to participate in the witches’ Sabbath. (By the 1890s these Easter cards could be bought from stationer’s shops).

Yeah, I vote to adopt this practice. It might sound scandalous to you folks, but I'm all in favor of a family-friendly, Christo-Pagan public celebration. Could you imagine inviting your neighbors to Sabbat, on Easter? Dressing up and shouting "boo!" at people in the spirit of wholesome fun? Sounds a lot more fun than isolating ourselves out by the local VFW Hall to hawk our crystal wares and listen to some small-time fantasy authors read from their latest work. I thought Americans knew how to party?

At any rate, according to the legends that inspired these festivities, during Holy Week, witches are said to fly to the mythical mountain meadow of Blockula, the "blue hill" where they would have congress with the Devil. If that sounds more like your idea of a good time, then more power to you. The Devil's accommodations sound pretty comfortable, to tell you the truth.