The stories of witches and Blåkulla are commonly associated with Easter in Sweden. Despite the last witch burning occurring in the 18th century, the legends of witches seizing children and flying to Blåkulla continue. The location of this mythical place is unclear, with some claiming it is on Brattön, while others say it’s on an island between Öland and Oskarshamn called Blå Jungfrun. Brattön resident, Lars-Åke Hannebjörk, who has family roots on the island dating back to the 18th century, revealed that Blåkulla got its name from the mountain’s blue tone when viewed from the sea. During the 17th century, witches were burnt there, but now the island holds a traditional Easter bonfire. Despite other places claiming to be the real Blåkulla, Hannebjörk asserts that the Blåkulla is indeed Brattön.
The stories about witches and Blåkulla are almost as strongly associated with Easter as chickens, eggs and the color yellow.
Despite the fact that the last Swedish witch burning took place in the 18th century, the stories of witches who kidnapped children and flew to Blåkulla live on.
But where is this mythical place located?
In the fairy tales some mean. On Brattön outside Marstrand, others say.
Lars-Åke Hannebjörk, 59, is one of the few year-round residents and his family has had roots in Brattön since the 18th century.
– My father was born here, but I was not. I’ve been in the human village for a while. Now I have lived here since around 2015, he says.
The Easter bonfire would be visible from afar
The human village means the mainland, but the connections to the sea and the island have always been there.
– I have been a professional fisherman for 30 years. When you come from the west, you can see Brattön very clearly. Then it is the case that the mountain itself has a blue tone when viewed from the sea. That gave rise to the name Blåkullen, or Blåkulla then.
Up on top of the mountain, during the century of the witch burnings, the 17th century, witches are said to have been burned at the stake.
– It was the highest mountain and so they had the Easter bonfire up there so that it would be visible from afar. Now we are too comfortable, we have it further down and now it is mostly rubbish that is burned.
“There are many who are jealous”
The Easter celebration at Brattön is traditional like in many other places.
– We have an Easter bonfire in the northern harbour, it’s a start to spring with a combination of cleaning and social enjoyment if the weather permits. That controls a lot.
Are they talking about the witches still flying here?
– History is like that and a version is created that is passed on. I met an elderly woman on Maundy Thursday and then I said that now I don’t know if I met an Easter sweetheart. Then she glared at me a little, then she laughed. So it’s not something you want to be called. People from here respect that.
But it’s not just Brattön that claims to be the real Blåkulla. Another example is Blå Jungfrun, an island between Öland and Oskarshamn.
– It is clear that there are many who are jealous, I understand that, but it is the highest island in Bohuslän and this is where it really is. I understand that more people want to be one, but we deny that, there is only one real Blåkulla.
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