Easter in Europe

Easter in the UK combines both religious and secular customs. Churches hold special services celebrating the resurrection of Christ, usually starting with an Easter Vigil. Children particularly enjoy Easter egg hunts. Families hide chocolate eggs in gardens and parks, so the event becomes a fun and interactive game for children. Another Easter custom that is very popular in the UK is the eating of hot cross buns. These sweet, spiced buns, marked on top with a cross, are traditionally eaten on Good Friday. It is said that the buns symbolize Jesus’ crucifixion, the cross made of dough symbolizes the actual cross. Honoring a tradition of sharing hot cross buns with others is said to bring good luck for the year.

Easter week in Italy is a solemn week beginning with Maundy Thursday and culminating in Easter Sunday. It features many religious processions and reenactments of the Passion of Christ, particularly in Rome, where the Easter celebrations are truly grand at the Vatican. The Pope celebrates Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, attracting thousands of pilgrims from all over the world. In addition, processions in smaller towns depict episodes from the Easter story, with costumed actors and impressive floats filling the streets with life. Another Italian Easter tradition, the “Scoppio del Carro”, or “Explosion of the Cart”, is found in Florence. In this case, a cart piled with fireworks is set on fire, thus ensuring a fruitful year. This custom, which dates back to the time of the First Crusade, is often linked to ideas of light and resurrection.

In Spain, Easter is Semana Santa (Holy Week) —a time of stunning processions in which life-sized statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary, among others, are pulled through the streets on enormous floats. Created with such incredible realism that they evoke true feelings, the statues are breathtakingly beautiful. Known as “costaleros,” the participants carry the gigantic floats on their shoulders, while “nazarenos,” who are dressed in penitential robes and hoods, walk beside them The processions are typically accompanied by mournful music, which adds to the emotional intensity of the scene. Cities such as Seville and Malaga are famous for their passionate and profound Semana Santa celebrations, attracting large numbers of locals and tourists.

 

United States

Many people will attend church services on Easter Sunday, often in their finest clothes. Sunrise services, usually held outdoors, are common in communities to honor the rising sun, which symbolizes the resurrection of Christ.

Easter egg hunts continue to enjoy great popularity. One of the most famous Easter celebrations is the White House Easter Egg Roll, which has taken place on the South Lawn every year since 1878. The program combines games, storytelling, and, naturally, the famous egg roll.

New York and other cities present large, colorful parades where costumed participants display extravagant hats and clothing. The New York Easter Parade on Fifth Avenue is one of the best known, celebrating not only Easter but also the arrival of spring.

 

Canada

In Canada, Easter looks complexly the same thing as in the U.S.: church services and family gatherings are important. One special part of the family Easter celebration will be such that all people come together to share a meal. Lamb or ham would be the centerpiece of the meal, with side dishes containing seasonal vegetables.

Another prominent element of Easter in Canada is chocolate, with shelves crowded with ornate Easter chocolates in shops every year. Sugar eggs are also made, which are intricately decorated, and sometimes contain little scenes within them.

Moreover, each area has fostered unique traditions of its own. In Quebec, for example, it is typical for children participating in Bonhomme Carnaval, a parade in which the Easter Bunny joins in with other friendly characters, to bring joy and merriment.

 

Easter in South America

In Brazil, Holy Week is marked by a series of processions, masses, and feasts. The most notable occasion is Semana Santa in the historic town of Ouro Preto. The Brazilian community invests considerable time in these preparations. Passion plays attract a lot of attention as they dramatically portray the last days of Jesus’ life. These grand performances, featuring numerous actors, are powerful enough to leave spectators in tears.

In Peru, Easter celebrations are a rich tapestry of indigenous traditions and Christian beliefs, mirroring the country’s multicultural legacy. One of the important centers of Easter celebrations in Peru is Cusco, a historic city. Various processions take place in the city, the most important of which is the one for the Lord of the Tremors, which honors a statue of Christ that is very well loved and attributed with miraculous powers.

On Good Friday, many people take part in a reenactment of the last supper, sharing traditional dishes like “chiriuchu,” a spicy Andean dish comprising various meats and corn. This meal is both a delight and a reminder of the cultural fusion that is part of Peruvian Easter.

 

Africa

Fasika is the name of Easter in Ethiopia. It comes after a long fast during which practitioners refrain from eating meat and dairy for 55 days. Thus, the end of this fast is a time for joy.

On Easter, church services in Ethiopia begin late Saturday evening and continue until early Sunday morning. Chanting, singing, and meditation are some of the services. Families gather after church for a big meal to break the fast. The meal often includes spicy chicken stew (“doro wat”) and sourdough flat bread (“injera”).

In Nigeria, Easter is a time of worship and gratitude, where religious services merge with social activities. Churches are beautifully adorned with ribbons and flowers, and the services are filled with lively music and dance.

After service, families and friends come together for festive meals that display Nigerian culinary traditions, offering dishes such as “jollof rice,” “egusi soup,” and “suya,” a spicy meat skewer. Many people participate in easter parades where they exhibit colorful costumes and masks, representing the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria’s various ethnic groups. In certain areas, it’s customary for local communities to organize Easter “harvest” activities, where food and other items are given and received with the less fortunate.