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In countries such as Germany and the Netherlands, massive bonfires were lit on Easter to ward off winter's chill and the malevolence of witches. These fires were believed to possess purifying qualities, safeguarding villages from evil forces and ensuring that the devil did not roam free among the fields.
In Sweden and adjacent areas, the association between Easter and witchcraft is even more pronounced. Children donned ragged clothing, resembling witches, and traveled door-to-door seeking sweets—a tradition reminiscent of Halloween's trick-or-treating, but firmly rooted in the symbolism of Easter.