Culture & History

A spring greeting May Day has long been a day for “majar” on Rörö – an old expression meaning to go out into nature and welcome spring. When the light returns and the wind becomes milder, families pack a coffee basket and cakes and go out to the hills, or […]

Autumn festivities The first Monday after 20 September marks the start of lobster season – a day that many on Rörö count down to all year long. At dawn, the lanterns in the harbour are lit, the boats chug out to sea and the traps are lowered into the calm […]

Light in the winter darkness When December darkness descends upon the island and the wind whistles around the corners, a quiet light spreads throughout Rörö. One of the most beloved traditions is when the school children perform Lucia – not in church or on stage, but in the midst of […]

The scent of wood and warmth In the run-up to Christmas, many households engage in baking. In the past, people burned all the wood they could find on the island, including juniper bushes, as well as driftwood that had washed ashore during the year, in large ovens and baked lots […]

The First Cast of Spring When the calendar flips to April 1st, the urge to fish awakens once more. That’s when the sea trout season opens – a day many on Rörö look forward to after a long winter. After months of protection, you’re finally allowed to head out again, […]

Spring’s Play and Fire At Easter, the children dress up as Easter witches and go from house to house, handing out drawings and wishing people a happy Easter in exchange for sweets.Meanwhile, the Easter bonfires are being prepared; weeks before Easter, children and teenagers gather spruce branches, brushwood, and other […]

A Modern Winter Game When Christmas is over and the trees are carried out, the young people of Rörö take over. The Christmas Tree War is an old tradition centered around collecting trees from the houses, often in competition between different islands or groups. The trees are hidden and guarded, […]