Paying Homage to the Misguided Past: A Serious Matter with a Sprinkle of Cheek
Well, here we are folks! A ceremony to remember 36 innocent women and four men who fell victim to the church witch trials in Sweden back in the 17th century. And no, this isn’t an overly contrived plot for a period drama – it’s a stark reminder that history likes to keep a record of its own, although sometimes it seems it might have been written by a very upset editor!
So, on October 26th, the Church of Sweden in Härnösand is setting the stage for a solemn yet poignant remembrance. You can almost hear the gasps echoing through history as the names of those innocently executed are read out loud! These courageous folks will not go ignored, thanks to the shiny new memorial stones. Honestly, who knew grave markers could be so trendy? Take that, Instagram filters!
The Details that Matter
These beautifully engraved stones—because let’s face it, if you’re getting a memorial, it might as well look fabulous—will bear the names, ages, and even hometowns of the witch trial victims. It’s truly heartfelt stuff, showing that these weren’t just names on a piece of parchment, but real people with families, lives, and probably some pretty questionable fashion choices of the time. Remember, this was the 17th century – hoop skirts and oversized collars were all the rage!
Stigsjö Cemetery, alongside the Old Cemetery in Härnösand and the cemeteries in Säbrå, will host these stones. Now that’s a proper gathering of the dearly departed, wouldn’t you say? I can only imagine the conversations the spirits must be having about how they’ve been memorialized – probably debating whether their life achievements are worthy of being engraved in stone!
A Journey to Redemption
Bishop Emeritus Eva Nordung-Byström, bless her heart, is leading the charge for this memorial project. She’s been deeply involved in the matter and resonates with the survivors (or in this case, the indirectly related family members) whose identities were stripped away for the grand misunderstanding of witchcraft. I can just picture her in meetings, passionately advocating for giving their identities back, while others, probably aghast, sipped their tea. It’s terribly British, isn’t it?
The dark chapter in Swedish history—where approximately 300 people found themselves under the suspicious glare of “witchcraft” accusations—serves as a cautionary tale. Kent Nordin, Dean of Härnösand, captures the essence of the moment: “Remembering this chapter is crucial because, let’s be honest, false rumors and hatred still rear their ugly heads today.” It’s a stark reminder that while we may think we’ve evolved, we still occasionally take a wrong turn on the road to common sense. Can I get a “bravo” for the historical flashbacks?
The Witching Hour of Remembrance
So, mark your calendars! The ceremony begins at 12:00 p.m., at the Old Cemetery on October 26th. It’s not every day you get to commemorate a bunch of people for being wrongly accused in a not-so-charming past! And just to add a bit of tradition, candles will be lit, because nothing says "we remember you" like a flickering flame on a solemn occasion. Just don’t forget to bring a scarf; the last thing we need is the ghosts to catch a chill!
In conclusion, while the past can be as dark as a midnight walk through a haunted forest, it’s nice to see the efforts taken to honor and remember those affected by ignorance and fear. Just imagine if only they had an online hashtag like #NotAWitch back then—who knows, history could have been very different! Perhaps next time we should just hand out "Witch" flyers on social media instead of hauling people into court. Cheers to preservation, remembrance, and a bit of cheeky commentary on the human condition!
On Saturday, October 26th, the Church of Sweden in Härnösand will remember 36 women and four men who were innocent victims of church witch trials in the 17th century. Their names are immortalized on memorial stones placed in three cemeteries in the royal town of Västernorrland.
Stigsjö Cemetery (photo left) is one of three cemeteries in Härnösand where the victims of the witch trials are commemorated. – The names, ages and hometowns of those innocently executed are stated on the memorial stones, as far as the information is available. The picture shows the memorial stone that was erected in the old cemetery in Härnösand. (Photos: Härnösand Municipality and Kent Nordin)The memorial stones are located in the Old Cemetery in Härnösand and in the cemeteries in Säbrå and Stigsjö – places where the unjustly convicted women and men lived.
Each stone is engraved with the names, ages and villages of origin of those executed. 18 people are honored in the Old Cemetery, 11 in Säbrå and 11 in Stigsjö.
Later in the year, memorial stones will also be erected in Kramfors at the cemeteries of Torsåker, Dal and Ytterlännäs, but the dates for the inaugurations have not yet been set.
The memorials were developed by the Church of Sweden in Härnösand and Kramfors in collaboration with Bishop Emeritus Eva Nordung-Byström, who will take part in Saturday’s ceremony.
Giving the church’s victims back their identity
“This project has been planned for a long time and is very close to my heart, as I have dealt intensively with the topic during my term as bishop,” said Nordung-Byström.
“With the memorial stones we are giving the victims back their identity. They were people with names and a home in the villages of this region,” she emphasizes.
A reminder of a dark chapter in history
Kent Nordin, Dean of Härnösand, also takes part in the inauguration of the memorial stones for the victims of the witch trials.
“We must remember this dark chapter of our history because it reminds us of important lessons. False rumors and hatred are still spreading today, which can have devastating consequences for those affected,” says Nordin.
Between 1668 and 1676, around 300 people were executed in Sweden after being accused and convicted of witchcraft. Many of these witch trials took place particularly in Ångermanland, now part of Västernorrland County, in which the church, then part of the state, played a central role.
It was not until 1779 that the criminal offense of witchcraft was removed from the statute book.
The memorial service on Saturday, October 26th begins at 12:00 p.m. at the Old Cemetery in Härnösand. Following the ceremony, candles will also be lit on the memorial stones in the cemeteries in Säbrå and Stigsjö.
Our QUIZ on the topic of SWEDEN