Need Easter Egg Alternatives? Celebrate the Swedish Way! 

Easter and egg dying go hand in hand, but this year with the rising cost of eggs, many are looking to create new traditions with easter egg alternatives. Fortunately, modern Swedish Easter celebrations offer plenty of festive ways to celebrate without real eggs! 

In Sweden, children dress up as påskkärringar (Easter witches), wearing headscarves, long skirts, and painted faces. They go from house to house in their neighborhood exchanging homemade drawings and paintings for candy. Afterward, they receive large cardboard påskägg (Easter eggs) filled with sweets from their parents. Some families create Easter egg hunts with riddles or clues, while others simply gift the eggs. It’s estimated that the average Swede consumes around one kilo of candy during the Easter weekend. 

Another cherished tradition is påskris, the Swedish Easter tree. Typically made from birch or willow twigs, it is decorated with feathers, ribbons, or hand-made eggs. A convenient bush or tree can also make an excellent påskris. Like decorating a Christmas tree, this is a fun activity to enjoy with children. Plus, feathers are reusable and easy to find! 

At ASI, Easter celebrations include an annual egg hunt for 300 kids in the courtyard and the Turnblad Mansion—the only egg hunt in a castle in the Twin Cities. Families can enjoy intergenerational activities such as story time with the Easter Witch, decorating the Easter tree with colorful feathers, making Swedish-inspired Easter cards, and creating festive table decorations. 

New this year for the hunt, ASI has replaced plastic eggs with wooden eggs. After finding their eggs, kids can paint them and search for their unique eggs next Easter—a fun, sustainable tradition to build upon each year.  

From Swedish candy to reusable decorations and toys to stuff in baskets, you can find what you need for your own Easter celebration at the ASI Museum Store. 

 Learn more about Swedish Easter traditions and history in this blog post.