10 Weird Easter Traditions Around the World

Easter celebrates the resurrection of Christ and, precisely for this reason, it is a very celebrated party in countries with a Christian tradition. However, different localities celebrate the date in different ways. In Mexico, for example, Easter has a more religious and solemn character, while in the United States the custom is to do fun activities.

O awesome.club researched how different nations celebrate Easter and found unusual traditions that are little known to most people. Follow:

The country celebrates Easter by decorating a tree with eggs painted in different colors. And these trees get as much attention as Christmas trees: people strive to make an unforgettable decoration, whether placing the tree indoors or outdoors.

The protagonist of Easter has ears and carries eggs, but he is not exactly a rabbit. These rodents are frowned upon in the country because they are considered a pest, so the image of the festival is a marsupial known as a bilby. He has big ears like rabbits, but his snout is more like that of mice.

In the region of Catalonia, Spain, there is a town called Verges, where Easter is seen as an opportunity to reflect on life as something brief. On Good Friday, there is a procession in which people are dressed as skeletons. During the journey, scenes from the Passion of Christ are represented, and people throw ash wherever they go.

The roots of Easter are associated with a pagan goddess of spring and fertility called Eostre. According to legend, Eostre found a bird that was on the verge of death from the cold. To save the animal’s life, she turned him into a rabbit. From this metamorphosis, the creature survived, but continues to lay eggs to remember its past as a bird. In other versions of the same story, the rabbit decorated the eggs it laid and gave them to the goddess as a sign of gratitude. Therefore, this fantastic being who distributes chocolate eggs has become an Easter symbol in several countries, but it was the USA that made him world famous.

The character who fills French children’s baskets with chocolate eggs is not the Easter rabbit, but the Easter bell. In many regions of France, the bells remain silent from Good Friday onwards, as a form of mourning for the death of Jesus. On Sunday, they ring joyfully to announce that the Savior has risen. To celebrate this miracle, the children get chocolates and some little gifts.

In other regions of France, such as Bessieres, the natives prepare a gigantic omelette, which is shared among everyone. The party is so important that there is even a brotherhood that organizes the same event in different countries, and on different dates. They say that the custom arose because, on one occasion, Napoleon Bonaparte and his army visited a village located in that area and were served with this dish. The soldier would have liked the delicacy so much that he demanded to eat the same thing for breakfast the next day. Therefore, all residents had to give up their egg reserves to satisfy Napoleon’s whim.

In the country with an Orthodox Christian majority, Easter is celebrated with great solemnity, so food represents an important part of the tradition. In the week before Easter Sunday, that is, the Monday following Palm Sunday, known as Megali Evdomadareligious events are held every day, and people are in the habit of cleaning their homes in preparation for Easter.

On Good Friday, the custom is to eat a special bread known as tsoureki🇧🇷 On Saturday, the magiritsa, a special soup of the time, based on lamb and consumed at midnight. Sunday is celebrated with a traditional family meal, including dishes such as roast lamb, a series of dishes that form the mezedakia and different types of salads.

In this country, water is an important part of the Easter festivities. Years ago, on the Monday following Easter Sunday, the boys would throw buckets of water over the girls while singing a song: “Through the green woods I saw a violet beginning to wither, may I water that flower?” Today, the celebration is more discreet: instead of throwing water on the girls, they throw perfume or perfumed water. The tradition is called locsolkodás🇧🇷

One of the most famous Easter traditions in this country is called Eggjarping. There are two competitors, each with a boiled egg in their hand. Players hit eggs against each other, and whoever owns the egg that breaks loses. The practice is so widespread that there is even a set of rules governing the competition.

In Florence, Italy, the celebration of Easter goes back to the time of the first Crusade. This is the traditional “Scoppio del Carro”, which consists of placing fireworks in a vehicle, which is set on fire in front of the beautiful cathedral known as Il Duomo. The person in charge of this is the archbishop. Locals stand around, wearing typical 15th-century clothing, watching the fireworks. In the old days, the habit was associated with the harvest season.

In Mexico, Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus, handing him over to the Romans, is seen as an unforgivable act. For this reason, Easter is usually celebrated with the burning of cardboard figures with demonic shapes representing the apostle. The symbolic goal is to make the traitor pay for his attitude.

In addition, there is another tradition known as “Saturday of Glory”, in which people wet each other using buckets, hoses or bladders filled with water. However, given the scarcity of water, today the wet party is prohibited.

In your opinion, which of these traditions is the most intriguing? How is Easter usually celebrated in your region? Comment!