påsken

Påsken, the Easter, is the annual Christian holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The period includes Holy Week, with Palm Sunday (Palmesøndag), Maundy Thursday (Skjærtorsdag), Good Friday (Langfredag), Holy Saturday (Påskeaften), and Easter Sunday (Påskedag), followed by the second day of Easter (Andre påskedag) in some countries. While it is rooted in Christian tradition, Påsken is observed in various ways across cultures, ranging from religious services to secular springtime customs.

In many Nordic countries, Påsken is a public holiday period and a time for a short break from work or school, often described as påskeferie. Many people travel to cabins in the mountains for outdoor activities such as skiing or hiking, and the holiday is associated with a shift toward lighter, celebratory activities as winter yields to spring.

Cultural practices during Påsken include the exchange and consumption of eggs, both decorative and edible, as well as chocolate figures. Egg hunts and other family-friendly activities are common, especially for children. A distinctive Norwegian tradition is påskekrim, the annual habit of reading crime fiction during the Easter period, which began as a publicity stunt in the 1920s and has endured as a cultural feature.

Etymologically, Påsken derives from Old Norse páska, ultimately linked to the Hebrew Pascha and the Latin Pascha, terms connected with the Passover and the Christian festival.

Today, Påsken encompasses family gatherings, outdoor recreation, religious observance for many, and a blend of tradional and contemporary customs that mark a transition from winter to spring in Norway and other Scandinavian countries.