Customer Stories with Emma

Sometimes, it can be easy to forget that people in different parts of the world celebrate Easter in their own way with their own traditions. However, as people grow up and move away, they often hold onto their favourite traditions while embracing the traditions of their new home. The result is a wonderful merging of cultures that may not have happened otherwise! We chatted with Emma, star of our #ForTheLoveOfFood video, about what she loved about Easter in the UK and how she marries traditional British Easter festivities with Swedish traditions – and of course, plenty of delicious food is involved!

What’re your favourite memories of Easter at home in the UK?

My favourite memory of Easter in the UK is of daffodils and time off school! Spring had finally arrived, everything was growing and there were glorious, yellow flowers everywhere. Here in Sweden, there could still be snow on the ground and if we’re lucky, perhaps a snowdrop or two.

The Easter egg hunt was also an important part of proceedings! Easter would always be a family occasion with big gatherings for food on Easter Sunday. Quite often we would eat what I like to call ‘picky bits’ – always boiled eggs of course (possibly painted during the morning by us kids!), different fish (salmon, pickled herrings – Swedish style), cuts of meat, fresh bread etc. We usually had homemade hot cross buns on Good Friday, warm from the oven and dripping with melted butter.

Do you still carry forward any foodie traditions, i.e.; Hot cross buns on Good Friday, Lamb Roast on the Sunday, chocolate eggs?

Here in Sweden, we still have ‘picky bits’ on Easter Sunday with the family. The Easter Egg hunt is still also a major part of proceedings and rather amusing as often the kids hide eggs for the adults!

What would your tips be for creating a fun Easter weekend for families with young children?

Painting eggs is an absolute must for the whole family! Just hard boil them and paint, then have them later for lunch. Here in Sweden, we actually have a decorated ‘Easter tree’, this is very traditional, almost on a par with a Christmas tree! A week or so before Easter, my family and I head into the woods and cut some Birch branches that are small enough to go into a large flower vase. The branches are then decorated with brightly coloured feathers, small hanging decorations such as chicks and eggs etc. and this forms the centrepiece of the dining table.

Image by auntpeaches.com

Another Swedish tradition is where kids (and grown-ups) dress up as ‘Påskkärringar’ – Easter ‘witches’. Usually, on the Thursday (traditionally all the witches fly off on their broomsticks to a party hosted by the devil on Thursday night) the kids draw pretty Easter pictures/cards which they then deliver to their neighbours. In return, the neighbour would give the children sweets – a bit like Hallowe’en.

Lastly, what Easter chocolate are you hoping to receive this year?

Creme Eggs have always been my favourite! I saw on an advert that there are even white chocolate Creme Eggs! I have never had one before but that would be my dream!!

Image by Cadbury