With the crazy weather we’ve been experiencing in the US, it’s hard to believe that Easter is fast approaching! Next weekend, kids across the country will be dying eggs and waiting for that infamous bunny to drop off some treats.
Many countries around the globe celebrate Easter, each with their own cultural traditions, such as religious ceremonies, activities centered on children and families, and even special dining experiences.
Let’s explore some of these unique traditions…
Eggy Fun in Sweden
Easter in Sweden is about fun, food and festivity, with humor-filled celebrations commencing on Easter Saturday. Children dress up as good witches, wearing long skirts, colorful headscarves and painted red cheeks. They travel from home to home, trading cards, paintings and drawings in return for sweets, eggs and coins– very similar to the American Halloween! At dinnertime, children drink påskmust (“Easter sap”), a dark brown carbonated beverage flavored with secret ingredients, while the entire family enjoys a traditional lamb steak dinner.
On Easter Sunday, food takes center stage. In typical Nordic fashion, the feast is comprised primarily of fish. Different kinds of herring, a selection of smoked salmon, roast ham and various cheeses are enjoyed. Of course, the main attraction is the Easter eggs. Eggs are exchanged and then later used in a game where players roll them down roofing tiles. The player’s egg that goes the furthest without breaking is the winner of the game.
All Bells
In France, church bells ring every day of the year except for the three days of Easter. Legend has it that the reason the bells stop ringing is because they’ve made a trip to Rome in order to be blessed. On Easter Sunday, the bells make their return and tour the entire country sprinkling chocolate eggs, chickens and rabbits as they go in each and every garden. After midday, children head to the gardens to find their hidden treasures left by the blessed bells. The day of events also includes a hearty meal, normally consisting of lamb, which is the Easter dish of choice in France.
In one particular town in France, the town of Haux, a giant omelet made of 4,500 eggs is served in the town’s main square. The massive omelet feeds 1,000 people! This unique tradition is based on the story of Napoleon and his army, who were traveling through the south of France. They stopped in a small town and ate omelets. Napoleon liked his so much that he ordered the townspeople to gather their eggs and make a giant omelet for his army the next day.
Toy Hunting in Germany
Easter Baskets are the main tradition in Germany. Children receive a basket put together by their parents, containing not only eggs and chocolate, but also toys and other gifts. The baskets are hidden in the garden, and the kids have to hunt for them after church on Easter Sunday. This is particularly popular in rural areas where houses tend to have big gardens, making it a fun challenge.
In more urban areas, families tend to go on an Easter walk and hide their Osternest, which means Easter nest, in the forest or a meadow. The kids go hunting for it during this special family expedition.
Many Germans have an ‘Easter Fire’ where they burn their Christmas tree to show that winter is over and spring is coming. It is also popular to have an egg tree. Real eggs are painted and then hung from branches in a vase inside the house. Some people go to huge efforts to cover an entire tree in their garden with these delicate egg ornaments.
Red Eggs Only, Please
In Greece, after attending church, people make their way to the homes of friends and relatives. They carry candles, which are placed in each home and burn through the night, to symbolize the light returned to the world. Celebrations continue with the cracking of “red” eggs at the Resurrection Table. The “kokkina” or dyed red eggs, become pieces of a traditional game. Each participant takes an egg and challengers attempt to crack the egg of their opponent. The breaking of the eggs is meant to symbolize Christ breaking from the tomb. The person whose egg lasts the longest is assured good luck for the rest of the year.
In Corfu, the tradition of “pot throwing” takes place on the morning of Holy Saturday. Citizens throw pots, pans and other earthenware out of their windows, smashing them on the street. Some say the custom of throwing pots welcomes spring, symbolizing the new crops that will be gathered in new pots. Others say it derives from the Venetians, who on New Year’s Day, used to throw out all of their old items.
Rosy Bulgaria
Here people don’t hide their eggs — they have egg fights! Whoever comes out of the game with an unbroken egg is the winner, and is assumed to be the most successful member of the family in the coming year.
In another tradition, the oldest woman in the family rubs the faces of the children with the first red egg she has colored, symbolizing her wish that they have rosy cheeks, health and strength.
Thirsty in Hungary?
In what is possibly the most unusual Easter activity, Hungarian girls and women dress up in traditional costumes and wait for boys and men who – armed with a bucket of water – go from door to door, visiting female relatives, friends and acquaintances. Men politely ask the women if they can sprinkle them in the form of a “sprinkle poem”, and if they get a yes, they pour the bucket of water on them. It’s even more fun if the water is cold and girls are screaming. Younger girls often have a friendly competition of who gets the most sprinkles.
A modern approach to this “sprinkling” occurs in more urban areas, where women wear casual clothes for this occasion, and men sprinkle perfume or cologne in women’s hair. The result is that most women have about 40 different scents in their hair by the end of the day.
What family traditions do you celebrate on Easter? Share with us below!
If your family tradition includes an Easter getaway to the tropics, be sure to check out a Sea TREK adventure – fun for the whole family!
