Easter Traditions From Around the World

Happy Easter! This Christian holiday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While the religious significance of Easter remains the same globally, the traditions and customs associated with it vary widely across different cultures. Here are some of the most interesting Easter traditions from around the world.

Easter Eggs (United States)

Easter eggs are a staple of American Easter celebrations. Children dye eggs in vibrant colors and participate in Easter egg hunts, where they search for hidden eggs that were placed there by the Easter Bunny. The White House even holds an annual Easter egg roll.

Semana Santa (Spain)

Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is a week-long celebration leading up to Easter Sunday in Spain. The streets are filled with parades featuring elaborate floats, marching bands, and people dressed in traditional costumes. Some people also participate in the act of penance, where they walk the streets barefoot while carrying crosses. You’ll also see people who wear capirotes, which are traditional peaked hats (these have no affiliation to the Ku Klux Klan).

Flying Kites (Bermuda)

In Bermuda, Easter is celebrated with the flying of kites. People create colorful kites in a variety of shapes and sizes, from small ones for children to large ones that can take hours to build. On Easter Day, the skies are filled with kites of all colors and designs.

Haux Omelette (France)

In the town of Haux in southwestern France, Easter is celebrated on Easter Monday with a giant omelette. The tradition dates back to the time of Napoleon, when he and his army stopped in the town and ate omelettes made from local eggs. Today, the town hosts a giant omelette feast, using over 4,500 eggs to feed more than 1,000 people.

Pot Throwing (Greece)

In Corfu, the end of Lent is celebrated with a tradition called Pot Throwing. People throw clay pots out of their windows, smashing them on the street below. The tradition is said to symbolize new beginnings and the arrival of spring.

Easter Bread (Ukraine)

Easter in Ukraine is celebrated with a special bread called paska. The bread is shaped like a cylinder with a rounded top and is decorated with religious symbols such as crosses and flowers. It is typically served with butter and honey.

Water Fight (Poland)

Poland marks Easter Monday with a water fight called Śmigus-Dyngus. People splash each other with water in the streets and in homes, sometimes using buckets or water guns. The tradition is said to have originated as a way of purifying oneself before Easter.

Easter Bonfires (Germany)

Easter is celebrated with bonfires called Osterfeuer in Germany. The tradition dates back to pagan times when fires were lit to welcome the spring. Today, Hanover, Westphalia and Lower Saxony mark the end of winter with Easter fires on the Saturday evening before Easter.

Anthony’s Take: These are just a few of the diverse Easter traditions from around the world. Whether it is the flying of kites, the baking of bread, or the throwing of pots, each serves to celebrate new beginnings, rebirth, and the arrival of spring.