As we celebrate Easter comfortably confined this year and the luckiest of whom can organize an egg hunt in their garden, find out how Easter is celebrated around the world. Originally a religious holiday, Easter today celebrated in many countries and often even forget the religious character of this holiday. As you will discover, the customs related to Easter are very different from country to country and sometimes give rise to rather original celebrations!
On the occasion of Easter, religious representations are often organized in the streets and the Spanish have the habit of tasting an Easter brioche called Mona on which coloured eggs are delicately placed before cooking.
In Italy
An Easter brioche is also in the spotlight for the occasion. The latter is called Colomba because, as its name suggests, it is a dove, symbol of good news. As in France, roast lamb is the most emblematic of Easter which is shared on Sundays.
In England
Among the English, it is the pig which is a symbol of luck. We do not eat lamb, but cooked ham. The eggs are also at the party and the children can sometimes even go to ring at their neighbours to ask for chocolates as they do with candies for Halloween.
In Norway
For Easter in Norway, it is the police stories that are honoured. Indeed, this tradition called Påskekrimmen which aims to read and watch movies about crimes during the Easter holidays. Manufacturers also play the game by posting short stories on product packaging.
In Poland
In Poland, water is celebrated for Easter! Symbol of life, great water battles are organized between the inhabitants who would also have the virtue of washing away sins for a new start. Monday is therefore called Smigus Dingus which literally means wet Monday. Eggs are also part of the festivities and are notably decorated with multiple colours and woollen threads.
In Sweden
Just like in Finland, children celebrate Halloween during Easter. Disguised mainly as witches, they wander the streets of their neighbourhood in search of treats. This tradition called Virpominen comes from an ancient legend which tells that witches and trolls went out on Easter weekend.
In Luxembourg
Here we exchange pretzels for Easter. Indeed, the Bretzelsonndeg tradition is that the boys offer a pretzel, a Luxembourg speciality, to the girl they like and if the latter accepts it he can visit her on Easter Sunday and receive an egg as a gift. In a bissextile year, the roles are reversed and it is up to the girls to offer pretzels to the boys.
In Germany
Families gather at dusk to witness an Easter fire that represents the sun. This is to celebrate the end of winter and the return of sunny days. The trees are also decorated with small multicoloured eggs and eggshells which also symbolizes the return of fruit trees.
In Greece
The lamb is also the meal of choice for Easter, while the eggs are coloured red to represent the blood of Christ. At the same time, tradition has it that on Corfu Island clay pottery is thrown out the windows on Saturday at 11 a.m. in order to ward off evil spirits and celebrate a new start.
In the USA
Easter is widely celebrated in the United States with many symbols of the Easter bunny bringing the eggs. Each year, a large egg hunt is organized in particular in the gardens of the White House
In Australia
Originally, the rabbit is the symbol of Easter in Australia, however, the latter is increasingly replaced by the bilby, a small marsupial on the verge of extinction in the country. Egg hunts are also organized and you can taste Hot Cross Buns which are small brioches with spices decorated with grapes or chocolate on which a sugar cross is drawn (see the photo above).
In Russia
There is lamb or ham of your choice as a traditional Easter dish in Russia. For dessert, they bake the kulich a cake based on rum and saffron but also the paskha a kind of dessert made with Fromage blanc while the eggs are also decorated for the occasion.
