In America, we have the Easter Bunny, Easter trees, lots of candy, and Easter eggs. But what about other nations;? Have you ever wondered how other cultures celebrate Easter? Here are some of the Easter traditions from countries all over the world. Maybe you can incorporate some of them into your own Easter celebrations this year!
Armenia
Armenians decorate their Easter eggs with pictures of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and other religious icons.
Austria
Austrians attach ferns and other plants to eggs. After they are boiled, the plants are removed and a white pattern is revealed on the shell.
Belgium
Belgians believe that the Bells of Rome bring the Easter Bunny and the eggs together. Because all the bells are in Rome, they have the “Stille Zaterdag” or the Silent Saturday.
Bulgaria
Bulgarians crack eggs after midnight on Easter Sunday. The first one is cracked against the church wall, and then everyone chooses their own egg. tEach egg is cracked against another person's egg and the one left with an unbroken egg will receive a year of good luck.
England
An old Tradition in England was for boys and men to go out on Easter Eve and travel the town begging for eggs before performing an Easter play.
Finland
The Finnish greet their friend and family by whisking them with small willow twigs. This is done to wish them luck in the following year. Everyone has a turn; and then on Easter Sunday, they exchange eggs, candies, or money to repay the favor.
Germany
In Germany, the eggs are pierced at the end and the yolk blown into a bowl. The now empty egg is dyed and hung from a tree as decoration.
Greece
The Greeks have a unique tradition. Everyone gathers at the midnight service, and all the lights in the church are turned off. A priest comes in the church doors with a lighted candle and goes to the front pew and lights one person's candle. In turn, the one candle lights the rest of the candles in the church. This represents everyone receiving the Light of the Resurrection.
Hungary
Hungarian kids trade hard-boiled eggs and then see who can be the first to throw a coin into the egg. It must stay in the egg and not just chip off the side of the shell.
Norway
Norwegians have an interesting way of celebrating Easter. After going skiing in the mountains or decorating eggs for the baskets, they turn to solving murders. All of the media have murder stories and the people try to solve the mysteries. TV, books, even milk cartons have some sort of murder story that needs to be solved.
Poland
For the Polish, the Easter basket is the highlight of the day. The older family members make them for the younger ones. They are filled with Easter eggs, homemade bread, ham, butter lamb, and Polish sausages.
Scotland
Scottish children hard boil eggs and paint them on Easter Saturday. On Easter Sunday, they take the eggs to the top of a tall hill and have a race to see whose egg would get to the bottom first.
There are many more traditions, but they are all done to honor the resurrection of Christ and celebrate his return to heaven.
Author: Anne Jefferson
