Easter in America is all about chocolate bunnies, pastel plastic eggs, and jelly beans hidden in the grass. It's fun — we get it. But Easter in Sweden? It's a whole different level of sweet.
In Sweden, Easter — called Påsk — is one of the biggest candy holidays of the entire year, second only to Christmas. And at the center of it all is a beautiful, candy-stuffed tradition called the påskägg — the Swedish Easter egg.
🥚 What Is a Påskägg?
Forget the small plastic eggs filled with coins or a single chocolate. A Swedish påskägg is something else entirely.
A påskägg is a large, beautifully decorated cardboard or papier-mâché egg — often illustrated with classic springtime scenes of hens, daffodils, and chicks. They come in all sizes, from palm-sized to ones so big you need both arms to carry them. And inside? Not just a few sweets. We're talking a full pound of candy. Carefully chosen. Lovingly packed. Totally irresistible.
The påskägg is given as a gift — to kids, partners, friends, siblings. It's personal, fun, and the highlight of Easter morning for millions of Swedish families every year.
They come in a mix of bold fruit flavors — think strawberry, raspberry, orange, and lemon — each one bright, punchy, and unapologetically delicious. This is not your average fruit chew.
🍬 What Goes Inside a Påskägg?
This is where it gets really fun. The inside of a Swedish påskägg is built around lösgodis 2014 pick-n-mix style assorted candy. There's no single 'right' combination. It's totally personal, and that's exactly the point. You pick the candies the recipient loves most. Here's what you'll typically find inside:
🍭 Fruity gummies: Bright, chewy, and colorful — gummies are an Easter egg staple. Think BUBS ovals, fruit bears, and sour worms.
😛 Foam candy (skumgodis): Soft, airy, and wonderfully nostalgic. Ahlgrens Bilar (the iconic candy cars) are a must. At Easter, you'll find foam chicks and bunnies too.
🖤 Salty licorice (saltlakrits): Love it or hate it, salty licorice is non-negotiable in a real Swedish påskägg. It's a cultural badge of honor — and once you acquire the taste, there's no going back.
🍫 Chocolate: Marabou chocolate and Daim bars (crunchy caramel and chocolate) are Swedish Easter classics that sneak into every egg.
🍋 Sour candy: Swedes love sour. Tangy gummies, sour cola bottles, and sour foam candies add a fun kick that balances out all the sweetness.
🧙♀️ Easter Witches — Sweden's Most Surprising Tradition
No Swedish Easter is complete without the påskkärringar — the Easter witches. And yes, you read that right.
Every Maundy Thursday (Skärtorsdag), Swedish children dress up in grandma's old clothes — colorful skirts, aprons, headscarves — and paint freckles and rosy cheeks on their faces. Then they go door to door in the neighborhood, handing out handmade Easter cards and drawings in exchange for candy.
Sound familiar? It's basically Halloween — but in spring, with witches instead of ghosts, and Easter cards instead of trick-or-treat bags.
The tradition dates back to Swedish folklore from the 1600s, when people believed witches flew to a mythical mountain called Blåkulla on Maundy Thursday to party with the devil. Terrifying then — absolutely adorable now.
When a brand has over 100 years of candy-making expertise behind it, you can taste the difference. Every Kracher is a tiny, perfectly crafted little moment of joy.
🌿 Påskris — Decorating with Feathered Twigs
While Americans put up Easter baskets, Swedes decorate their homes with påskris — birch branches decorated with bright-colored feathers, ribbons, and painted blown-out eggs. They're placed in vases all over the home as a symbol of spring arriving after the long Scandinavian winter.
Yellow is the color of Swedish Easter — daffodils (påskliljor), yellow feathers, yellow chicks. If you want to go full Swedish this Easter, grab some branches, hit a craft store for feathers, and make your own påskris. It's easier than it sounds and looks absolutely stunning.
🍬 How to Build Your Own Swedish Påskägg in the US
The best news? You don't need to fly to Stockholm to experience a real Swedish Easter egg. You just need the right candy — and that's exactly where we come in.
Here's a simple guide to building your own påskägg:
1. Find a large decorative egg or box. Craft stores and Amazon have cardboard Easter eggs — look for something with a lid you can fill up.
2. Mix your candy. Go for variety — sweet, sour, chewy, foamy. Aim for at least 4-5 different types to get that true Swedish mix feel.
3. Don't skip the salty licorice. It's the most Swedish thing you can do. Even if you're unsure, include a little. It's part of the experience.
4. Pack it with love. The påskägg is about more than candy — it's a gift. Personalize it to the person you're giving it to.
Shop our full range of Swedish candy at swedishcandyland.com/collections/pick-n-mix — everything you need to build the perfect påskägg, shipped fast with no import fees.
Glad Påsk! 🐣
Whether you're Swedish-American longing for a taste of home, or just someone who wants to try something new and delicious this Easter, the påskägg tradition is one of the most joyful, candy-filled things you'll ever experience. Give it a try this year. Your Easter will never be the same.
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