International students got a taste of Swedish childhood in an Easter egg hunt in Lundagård.
In search of fifteen brightly colored eggs filled with candy, international students perused Lundagård, the park in front of the AF Building, late afternoon on Tuesday.
Peeking behind bushes and among the branches of newly blossoming trees, students enjoyed Lund’s pleasant springtime weather and the warm sunlight as much as the candy.
“We thought we should do something for Easter”
The egg hunt was organized by the International College, the same organization that hosts the International Ball.
“We thought we should do something for Easter – it’s a big family holiday in Sweden, but most international students don’t have the chance to go home. Plus, it’s fun to feel like a child again,” said Lucia Morris, International Secretary of Malmö nation.
Found an egg fast
“I didn’t see anyone from the nations, just people finding eggs,” said Sarah Radau from Germany, who found her egg even before finding the event’s organizers.
After about 20 minutes, most students had found their eggs and convened in front of the AF Building.
Flying to Blåkulla
Although egg hunts were a common Easter celebration back home for most of the international participants, Sweden has some unique traditions as well.
Emma Svensson, International Secretary from Krischansta nation, and Lucia, told us about Easter witches – the story goes that the witches fly to Blåkulla (Blue Mountain) to meet the devil during Easter.
Swedish children dress up like witches and trade Easter cards for candy around their neighborhood, almost like an Easter version of trick-or-treating.
Concluded by a fika
Spring in Sweden is certainly cause for celebration – the long-awaited warm weather and sunlight lasting until 9 PM are the perfect reward for enduring a long, grey winter.
Most students have no classes this week for Easter, and Valborg, the official celebration of springtime, and a huge student holiday in Lund that is locally known as Siste april, is coming up on April 30th.
Tuesday’s event was concluded by an outdoor fika in the garden of Kalmar nation, where students could chat and soak in the evening sunlight.
