#Blåkulla

[spookystirfry]

Happy Easter! This witch might be a day late to catch the start of the party at Blåkulla but I'm sure she'll have plenty fun over easter weekend!

[notallsandmen]

Happy Witch Gentleman Shibari to all those who celebrate!

[soulsanitarium]

WITCH HISTORY

Among the most ubiquitous preoccupations of medieval literature is an insistent concern to detail the activities of the devil. In popular and theological belief alike, demons were everywhere ready to pounce upon the souls and bodies of the unwary, to deceive and trick even the most saintly. (Jennings 1977.)

⛪️The Espoo Cathedral is the oldest existing building in City of Espoo, Finland. The Espoo Cathedral is a medieval grey granite church at the shore of Espoo river. It has been been around for more than 500 years.

The church's oldest parts date back to the 1480s. The architect was an unknown "Espoo master". Together with the 🇫🇮Hattula and Lohja churches, the Espoo church is a significant monument of medieval murals.

😈As a warning to the people, the wall mural depicts the works of the devil and witches, e.g. churning butter (buttering the butter) with the help of demonic familiars or minor demons (Para or Piru in 🇫🇮).

😈Tutvillus (Titivillus or Tutivillus) : was a demon said to work on behalf of Belphegor, Lucifer or Satan to introduce errors into the work of scribes. However in Finland (Sweden-Finland) the demon had unique features.

“Certain people, however, think idle things during sermons and speak idle words in church when they should be putting their hearts to those things being said. Wherefore at a great solemnity, when a certain holy priest saw a devil stretching parchment with his teeth, he demanded of him why he was doing so. To whom the devil answered: "I am writing down the idle words said in this church which because of the solemn feast today have been remarkably increased, and seeing that the piece which I brought was not sufficient, I have attempted to stretch that parchment with my teeth. (Jennings 1977.)”

🇫🇮Finnish version continues: Laughing in church was forbidden. It happened that the parchment was already completely full when the churchman entered. The demon wanted this name on paper and began to stretch the cow skin parchment. However, it lost its balance and fell to the floor of the church. The churchman laughed at this, and the demon finally got his name on the list of sinners.🙂

Sko-Ella (Shoe Ella) is the titular protagonist villain of Scandinavian folk tale, who is known as the woman who terrified even the devil.

🗻Blockula (Blåkulla in modern Swedish, translated to "Blue Hill") was a legendary island where the Devil held his Earthly court during a witches' Sabbath.

Most helpful Sources:

Fält, K. (2017). Women and Demons in the Late Medieval Wall Paintings in the Church of Espoo (Finland). Mirator, 18 (1).

Tutivillus: The Literary Career of the Recording Demon

Author: Margaret Jennings

Source: Studies in Philology, Vol. 74, No. 5, Texts and Studies, 1977. Tutivillus: The Literary Career of the Recording Demon (Dec., 1977), pp. 1-83+85-87+89-91+93+95 Published by: University of North Carolina Press.

http://jussinjorina.blogspot.com/2008/01/mik-on-tutivillus.html?m=1

[madonna-of-the-wasps]

Thinking of the hags on their way to Blåkulla tonight

[ryuulu]

When you need to take your other vehicle to work, because of the yearly meeting afterwards. Fly safe my sister and see you all at Blåkulla!

[k4ttuggl4]

Blåkulla

A place enshrouded in darkness and mystery. It was believed that witches congregated there on the unholy eve of Maundy Thursday to engage in vile rites and pleasures with the prince of darkness himself.

[laziestgirlintown]

Broom pooling with these to Blåkulla

I'll spend the night on the nope-hill, wrapped in blankets, looking up at my full moon, as is my kärring right

[thatpinkweirdo]

Why are witches always associated with Halloween in pop culture? Like hello easter is right there???

[madeleinefjall]

Happy Easter, and safe travels to Blåkulla tomorrow.

[niuniente]

When speaking about the fact that we don’t know everything yet and science is constantly evolving, my favorite example are European witch hunts. Not as “people went crazy” but as how law and medical science treated people who were accused as witches.

Some examples of a book I’m reading now (in Finnish), which is based on mid-17th century (1650′s-1680′s) witch trial court record from Stockholm, Sweden. Mind you that compared to other witch ridden countries, Sweden and Stockholm had a much more skeptical approach to witches and children’s testimonies - and yet these things happened.

It was a scientific fact in the 17th century that witches exist. Point blank serious thing and 100% real. As real as all scientific facts, which we believe in now and now about, in year 2023. To battle this problem, Sweden made multiple jury groups from most scientifically educated people containing lawyers, priests, doctors and heads of the Swedish law system. Some complains were sent to the king, who also took a legal stance to help Sweden to deal with these horrible crimes.

Now, it was also a scientific and a legal fact that if there are enough people testifying against you, you are a witch. If you have 2 neighbors, 10 random children and your own 2 daughters telling in the court that you’re a witch, then you are a witch. Point blank. If you say that you don’t know what they are talking about and you are not a witch, then it means the Devil is preventing you from telling the truth. In fact, many of the people testifying against you are screaming that they see The Devil sitting on your throat and preventing you from telling the truth of you being a witch. The jury will press you to confess for the name of God, as it’s scientifically and legally a completely clear case that you are a witch by this point. If you testify, you will be executed before your body is burnt. If not, you might be considered such a vile criminal for the downfall of the whole society that you’re burned alive.

No matter what you say to protect yourself and tell you’re innocent will not work, because it is a scientific fact that the devil is causing this lying. Has he promised you eternal salvation after death? Is he choking you as we speak? Why don’t you confess, we know you did it.

It’s also a scientific fact that some people don’t remember witches taking them to Blåkulla (the place where witches go to party with the Devil). Some people don’t even remember that they are, in fact, witches themselves. It is scientifically proven than these memories can surface when someone else says that they saw you in Blåkulla or how you took children there.

While some scientists ponder if some of the visions people have are just illusions caused by the Devil, when so many people testify about you being a witch, it can’t be delusion. Children can’t make up stories, as it’s scientifically proven thing that children are innocent and can’t lie.

It’s also scientifically proven fact that visits to Blåkulla might leave marks on your body, or on the victims body. If someone accusing you being a witch says that you whipped them on the hand with snaked in Blåkulla, and indeed wounds or red marks are found on their arm, then it’s a scientific proof that you are a witch.

What is remarkable is that the law system, the scientists, the most educated people of the time, took these seriously and constantly made sure that they are following laws and won’t overdo anything. They didn’t want to judge innocent people or sentence wrong people to die. They did their best to prevent these wrong-doings from happening. And yet, this all happened.

Based on all this made-up nonsense, which we now understand not being possible at all, keeps my mind humble and thirsty for more scientific findings. It makes me wonder what people will see in our current time as same kind of (dangerous) nonsense as people during Witch Craze saw as the unshakable truth.

[theswedishpajas]

I’ve been busy with a huge project so there hasn’t been much art lately but at least I can give you this and wish you a happy easter! Be careful with the fires, you don’t wanna disturb the witches on their way to blåkulla the house of hope!!!

[oatsbiscuit]

Happy easter. Have this sketch.

Here is link as an easter witch flying away to Blåkulla to hang out with the devil. He crucified the poor korok and he has no regrets. 😞

Do the rest of the world have easter witches or is that just a Swedish tradition?

[czortofbaldmountain]

In a witch trial from 1673 in the province of Hälsingland, the maid Giölug Olufsdotter seems to have openly and without coercion confessed to having intimate relations with Satan (Court records 1673). She even claimed that she perceived her relationship with him as beautiful. The court complains that she denied or regretted nothing, showed no desire to repent; and that she claimed to drink, dance, and sleep with the 'worst Devil', i.e., Satan himself, while she was at Blåkulla, the location of the Swedish Witches' Sabbath. As if it did not suffice to proclaim herself a satanic witch, Giölung confronted the court and authorities with utter disdain, reviling the priesthood, the mayor, the court assessors and the police officers with perverse and blasphemous comments.

'It is better to believe in the Devil': Conceptions of Satanists and Sympathies for the Devil in Early Modern Sweden written by Mikael Häll in The Devil's Party: Satanism in Modernity edited by Per Faxneld and Jesper Aa. Petersen.

[dendro80]

Skärtorsdag och jag har påskpysslat lite hemma. Promenera iväg och fixa lite godis till påskhäxorna. Sen blev det en tur till husvagnen i Falun. 🥚🐣🌿🐇

Maundy Thursday (Google Translate for skärtorsdag?) and I have been doing some Easter crafts at home. Go for a walk and fix some candy for the Easter witches. On this thursday the children dress up as witches and go around the neighbourhood, offering easter cards for candy. Then up to the caravan in Falun. 🐇🐣🥚🌿

In swedish folklore people used to belive that the witches flew on thier brooms to Blåkulla where they would feast. As a precaution people would hide thier brooms, close the chimney or shoot up into the sky on this thursday. Today we instead give the witches candy, progress I guess. 😅🐣🐥🥚🌿

April 2023

Dalarna, Sweden

[swedethings]

This or That: Autumn Edition

"Autumn” or “Fall"?

"Inte heller… Höst."

Pumpkin Carving or Apple Picking?

"Apple picking. Autumn is the perfect time of year for äppelkaka; och there is no better way to make one then with freshly picked local apples."

Halloween or Thanksgiving?

"I am from Sweden. We do not celebrate Thanksgiving... And we barely celebrate Halloween."

Cashmere or Flannel?

"Both."

Cool and Crisp or Warm and Foggy?

"Why would anyone ever choose warm and foggy? Just thinking about that weather makes me uncomfortable."

Yankee Candles or Roaring Fireplace?

"What is a Yankee Candle? I am guessing that is an American thing? I will have to pick a roaring fireplace. The thought reminds me of the first snow... Which happens in autumn where I come from."

Scarves or Berets?

"Scarves. What do berets have to do with autumn? This should have asked about scarves or knit caps."

Cinnamon or Nutmeg?

"Cardamom... Och cinnamon."

Reading a Book or Watching a Movie?

"Reading a book. Autumn is the perfect time of year to curl up with a new crime novel och read by the fire."

Halloweentown or Nightmare Before Christmas?

"Nightmare Before Christmas... Only because I do not know what the other option is."

Hot Chocolate or Apple Cider?

"Can hard cider be an option?"

Wool Socks or Slippers?

"Wool socks. Sweden gets cold in autumn."

Trick or Treat?

"I would rather dress as a Easter witch och fly to Blåkulla..."

Marshmallows or Whipped Cream?

"For what? Both serve different purposes och are good for different things."

Goosebumps or Are You Afraid of the Dark?

"I have no idea what either of these mean..."

Plaid or Neutrals?

"Neutrals? Both? I honestly do not know."

Coffee or Tea?

"I am Nordic; och I am a single mamma with a toddler... The answer is coffee. Always coffee."

Red or Gold?

"Red or gold? Red or gold what? Just the colors in general? Red."

Blankets or Pillows?

"Blankets. I love a cozy blanket on a cold autumn day."

Cabins or Cottages?

"I grew up in a falu red cabin in Dalarna... Of course I will always pick cabin."

Scary or Spoopy?

"What is 'spoopy'? Is that some English word I never learned?"

Sweaters or Boots?

"Both. I come from a place with cold autumns. Sweaters och boots are both needed to stay warm and comfortable."

Caramel Apples or Candy Apples?

"Are they not the same thing?"

Hay Rides or Leaf Peeping?

"I feel like I am going to be the odd one when I choose leaf-peeping. I like the thought of driving around och watching all the leaves change colors."

[thoughts-of-a-heathen]

@professor-wednesday

I mean, you also have the falcon and eagle hamr?

In the medieval ballads, it is relatively common for people to turn into animals (or, in some cases, trees). These transformations are (to my knowledge) always involuntary (i.e. curses). People (usually fair maidens or noble knights) get turned into birds (mainly hawks and nightingales), [were]wolves, lindworms, deer, lime trees, foxes, snakes, lions, bears... Wolves and birds of prey seem to be quite common. 

In Scandinavian folklore, wolves and bears are definitely the most common animals in the context of hamnskifte (shapeshifting). And I honestly don’t think that has anything to do with their battle-fury. Carnivores weren’t exactly popular in the rural farming communities, and the alienation from other humans probably was an intended consequence of the curse.  Like I mentioned in my post about werewolves, people would turn into the carnivores that could be found in their local area, and/or the animal that would cause the greatest harm. In areas with no wolves or bears, people would turn into dogs. There is also a story about farmers who turn into wolverines to get back at some Sami men who had (allegedly) slaughtered and eaten the farmers’ horses. Disguised in wolverine hamr, the farmers attacked the Sami’s herd of reindeer, killing and maiming a large number of animals. (A common belief about the wolverine was that it would “keep killing for as long as there was movement.”) All of these tales, no matter what kind of animal(s) they mention, belong to the same category: sägner about werewolves. 

So what about other transformations? People (usually women) could [be] turn[ed] into a mare, and the mare could turn into all kinds of things. Cats and snakes seem to be the most common animals in stories about the mare. But the mare could also take the shape of inanimate objects (like pitch forks).  There are some tales of people turning into snakes (without being mares), presumably because of the snake’s association with Satan. However, this is relatively rare. (But stories about other supernatural snakes are very common.) 

I have also found one tale of a priest turning into an ox, but the transformation didn’t have anything to do with the characteristics of the animal.

We also have the witches who turn themselves into birds (often magpies or crows, sometimes white wagtails) before traveling to Blåkulla. There are many tales about this, like this one from Boda, Dalarna, Sweden (ULMA 19659):

“A man once tried to shoot a magpie that he found impertinent. When [he] fired the shot, he heard a cry of desperation, and when he hurried [to get] there, he realized that he had shot and broken the femur of a woman who was known to be a witch.”

Witches had many different ways of getting to Blåkulla, but I suppose that turning into a bird is slightly more convenient than riding on a chaplain...

To tie this post together with a nice, slightly fever induced bow, I’ll finish off by mentioning the legends of how different bird species were created. These often follow a similar formula: “[A human] fails to do something/does something that isn’t very nice or good, and [a Christian figure] punishes them by turning them into [some kind of bird].” 

A woman doesn’t want to share her bread with Jesus, so he punishes her by turning her into a black woodpecker.

A maid steals a pair of scissors made of silver and some silk yarn, and then lies about it, so the Virgin Mary punishes her by turning her into a swallow A bachelor “causes a lot of resentment among married men,” and is turned into an eagle-owl as punishment.

There are so, so many of these.

But yeah. Generally speaking, hamnskifte (shapeshifting) wasn’t something that “honest and hardworking people” wanted to be associated with.