Number 2 is cooking outdoors.
And when this season is over, when barbecuing, fishing and coffee boiling outdoors is over, the clothes are both dirty and smelly. But I can easily solve this with soap. Västerbottenssåpa is both greasy and alkaline and that's what's needed to get rid of grease and soot and smoke odor. I pre-treat the stains, especially light parts in overalls and jackets with soap and a soft brush (these are coarse clothes that can and need a tougher treatment to get clean) Then I wash in the machine according to the washing instructions. Clothes that are maintained, washed and repaired last much longer and it is always better for the climate to repair than to buy new. Clothes that are washed but still don't get clean can easily feel old and used up prematurely and then it's easy to go and buy new even though the clothes may have both one and two seasons left.
Number 3 is the Easter egg hunt, here everyone gets an egg... if you can find it!? The search itself becomes a game and an activity that both big and small children look forward to. In fact, the oldest in the group, just turned 20, looks forward to his egg as much as the youngest in the group. The Easter egg and the Easter present are a dear memory for me. When I was a child, we received an Easter present from grandma, but she always said that it was the Easter rooster who brought it. It was under the pillow when you woke up on Easter Saturday morning and I did that as a child in Bijelite. Bijelite is not far from Bångnäs where Sven Duva's croft was located. Those of you who know your Runeberg and have read Fänrik Ståls sägner (The Tales of Ensign Stål) may know about the soldier's cottage where Johan Zakarias Bång alias Sven Duva spent some time after improbably surviving the mistake of going on his own attack against Russia at Virta bridge. If you drive the Wilderness Road north, you will first come to Vuelie Lijhtie, then Gaske Lijhtie and then Bijelite Lijhtie and out there is an islet with a small storehouse and many fine Easter holidays were spent in that storehouse.
Number 4 is Oscar II cake, this is truly a family tradition. There is no Easter without this flat pastry with the taste of almonds. Almond is a raw material that we don't consume much of at home. Almond is not a big “climate villain” in terms of Co2, but it is a crop that requires large amounts of water and water is a resource that you should save if you can. So almonds we only have here at home at Easter in principle.
Number 5 is an extra sweet, -yes it's true... there is usually something new every year. And here I will give you a fun tip that is also super easy to do.
I have made chocolate mousse from organic chocolate and cream with just a little sugar in it, we choose organic as far as possible. Then I filled it in small clay pots (new and washed with kitchen soap) then I top the mousse with finely crushed dark chocolate cookies and a sprig of fresh lemon balm. You could almost think it's a small plant in loose and fine potting soil ;)
The children loved this fun Easter-spring-dessert.
Number 6 is the Easter party in the village. The community we have here is unbeatable. Children and adults like to socialize on days off and holidays and on Easter Saturday there is a party with food and sweets and a lottery. So when Easter is summed up, it is still the people who are important, the company means everything.
