Särestad Burial Ground – Sabbath Violations

Around Särestad, there are burial grounds from the Bronze and Iron Ages. In the lush pastures, you’ll find a northern area with standing stones and a southern part with five large stone settings. Across the road lies a large burial mound from the Bronze Age, six meters high and 35 meters in diameter. According to the folktale of Hagbard and Signe, Hagbard was buried here after hanging from Hagbard’s gallows located two kilometers further south. Visiting the site at dawn and dusk creates an enchanting atmosphere.

We leave prehistoric times and move to 1695. It was harvest season, and the farmers of Särestad were busy gathering the hay. After the harvest, it was customary for the harvesters to be treated to a celebration called slåtteröl, or “harvest ale.” On this occasion, the widow Elin Svensdotter in Särestad hosted the gathering. However, things didn’t go smoothly for Bengt Andersson of Särestad. Unfortunately, he had a few too many drinks, which left him unable to attend Sunday’s church service.

Bengt was brought to trial for missing church. Lying his way out of the situation wasn’t easy, but Bengt made a valiant attempt. He claimed that it wasn’t the drink that kept him home but rather that he had “pains in his body.” This excuse was doomed to fail. The sheriff himself had knocked on Bengt’s door after the service, finding Bengt just getting out of bed. Groggily, he explained to the sheriff that he “had drunk a little during the night.”

Bengt was sentenced to sit in the stocks outside the church for two Sundays in a row, and for his defiant attitude at court, he was also fined!

Text: Andreas and Anna Karlsson