Easter traditions

Easter traditions, also known as Paschal traditions, are customs and practices celebrated around the world to mark Easter, the main feast in Christianity. Easter remembers the resurrection of Jesus and is a time of joy and celebration after the quieter period of Lent.

These traditions include many joyful activities. People gather for sunrise services or late-night vigils and exchange Paschal greetings. Some decorate churches with flowers, such as the Easter lily, and flowering the cross. Women often wear beautiful Easter bonnets, and families enjoy decoration and sharing Easter eggs, which represent the empty tomb.

Children especially love traditions like egg hunting, where they search for hidden eggs, and games such as egg rolling, egg tapping, and playing with cascarones or confetti eggs. Easter is also a busy time for shops, with many people buying greeting cards and sweet treats like chocolate Easter eggs. These traditions make Easter a special and exciting time for families everywhere.

Games

Easter traditions include many fun games, especially those that use Easter eggs, which symbolize the empty tomb. Popular games include egg rolling, where eggs are pushed down a hill or across a lawn; egg hunt, where children search for hidden eggs; egg tapping, where players tap eggs together to see whose egg stays unbroken; and egg dance, where someone dances without crushing eggs.

Today, teachers and entertainers create new Easter games, like puzzles with Easter words, to keep the celebration exciting for children.

Food

Main article: Easter food

Easter is a special time for eating different kinds of food, and many people enjoy preparing, coloring, and decorating Easter eggs as part of the celebration. In many countries, people eat lamb to remember the Passover meal and the important meaning it has in Christianity. The egg is a symbol of new life, and for Christians, it represents the empty tomb of Jesus. One of the oldest traditions is to use dyed chicken eggs during Easter.

Africa

Ethiopia and Eritrea

Main article: Fasika

Easter, known as Fasika, is a major celebration for Ethiopian and Eritrean Christians. It is observed by all Christian groups, including Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant churches, and follows the eastern way of calculating the date, which often makes it later than the Western Easter. Fasika is more important than Christmas because it celebrates Jesus' resurrection.

The celebration begins with a long period of fasting during Lent, when many people do not eat meat or animal products. On Good Friday, people go to church to prepare for the end of the fast. The main event is the Paschal Vigil on Saturday night, a solemn service with music and dancing. Early on Sunday morning, families break their fast and begin feasting.

Nigeria

Since Christianity arrived in Nigeria in the early 1800s, Easter has been celebrated by Christian communities there.

Ghana

In Ghana, Easter is a joyful Christian festival celebrated over four days, from Good Friday to Easter Monday. Good Friday is a solemn day for reflection, with many Christians attending church services and some fasting until evening to remember Jesus' crucifixion and sacrifice.

Asia

Malaysia

Even though Malaysia is mostly a Muslim majority country, people in Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia celebrate Easter. This is because many of the local people there are Christians, and they enjoy the holiday with special traditions.

The Americas

In Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory known for its Easter lilies, people celebrate Easter by flying special kites to represent Christ's ascent. These kites are made by people of all ages and are only flown during Easter. They also enjoy eating fish cakes along with traditional foods like hot cross buns and Easter eggs.

In Jamaica, a popular Easter custom is eating spiced bun and cheese. These buns, filled with raisins, are baked in loaf tins and often given as gifts by employers to their staff. While Easter egg hunts and the Easter Bunny are not common in Jamaica, some people throw garlic on the floor during Easter dinner for good luck. In the United States, particularly in Louisiana, people have fun competitions where they tap eggs together to see whose egg stays uncracked.

Europe

Cyprus

Further information: Easter in Cyprus

In Cyprus, people enjoy the usual Easter egg hunts, but they also light large fires called "lamprazia" in school yards or churches. These fires are made from scrap wood collected by enthusiastic young boys. In Crete, a similar fire called "founara" is lit without competition.

Eastern Europe

Many central and eastern European ethnic groups, including the Albanians, Armenians, Belarusians, Bulgarians, Croats, Czechs, Estonians, Georgians, Hungarians, Latvians, Lithuanians, Macedonians, Poles, Romanians, Russians, Serbs, Slovaks, Slovenes, and Ukrainians, decorate eggs for Easter.

In Bulgaria, Easter eggs are decorated on Thursday or Saturday before Easter. A popular tradition is to have egg fights, where the last surviving egg wins. In the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and some parts of Hungary, men playfully spank women with handmade whisps on Easter Monday. The women often give the men colored eggs in return.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Slovenia, people prepare special baskets of food to be blessed at church. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo, people jump over small fires for good luck.

Germany

In northern Germany, Easter Fires are lit around sunset on Holy Saturday. These fires have become social events with food and activities for children. Special Easter bread is also enjoyed during this time. Egg throwing is a popular Easter pastime in many parts of Germany.

Hungary and neighbouring countries

In Hungary and nearby areas, the day after Easter is called "Watering Monday." Men visit families and sprinkle water on the women, who give them Easter eggs in return. Traditional Easter meals include ham, colored eggs, and horseradish sauce.

Ireland

Easter was a major holiday in Ireland, marking the end of Lent. Traditional meals included lamb, veal, and chicken. Eggs were dyed for good luck, and children would collect food to cook outdoors. Easter is also a day to remember those who died in the Easter Rising in 1916.

Italy

Main article: Easter in Italy

Easter in Italy is a major holiday with many traditions. Traditional dishes include lamb, called abbacchio, which is eaten to commemorate the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. In Italy, people also enjoy special Easter breads and cakes. On Easter Monday, families often have picnics or barbecues.

The Netherlands, Belgium and France

In these countries, church bells are silent before Easter as a sign of mourning. A tradition says the bells fly to Rome and return on Easter morning with eggs and chocolate. In the Netherlands, Easter Fires are lit on Easter Day in some regions.

Nordic countries

In Norway, people enjoy reading mystery stories during Easter. In Sweden and Finland, children dress up as Easter witches and collect candy. Families in Sweden and Denmark have special meals featuring herring, salmon, and eggs. In Finland, roasted lamb and a special Easter treat called mämmi are enjoyed.

Poland

Main article: Easter in Poland

In Poland, traditional Easter breakfast includes white sausage and mazurek. Many people enjoy butter shaped into lamb form as part of their Easter meal.

Ukraine

Preparations for Easter in Ukraine begin weeks in advance. Ukrainian Easter eggs, called pysanky, are decorated in many ways. On Easter Vigil, priests bless baskets of food, including eggs and other treats, which people then share with family and friends.

United Kingdom

In parts of the United Kingdom, traditions include rolling decorated eggs down hills. In the Isles of Scilly, there is a tradition called "goose dancing" where people dress up and visit neighbors for fun and jokes.

Oceania

In Australia, people enjoy eating hot cross buns and chocolate treats called Easter Bilbys. They also have a big yearly event called the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

In New Zealand, families also eat hot cross buns and chocolate eggs during Easter. They celebrate with another big yearly event called the Auckland Easter Show.