It's that time of year again! Days are finally getting warmer, beautiful flowers are blooming, baby animals are being born and an egg-celent Easter is waiting for you just around the corner. This year the holiday will fall on April 17, so don't forget to mark it on your calendar!
In this blog we have compiled a list of fun facts that you may not have known, including different cultural traditions, and special dishes from around the world.
Easter Culture
There are so many Easter traditions from different countries, each one being just as unique as the next. In England, where 8pron and most of our audience is based in, these are just the few of the many traditions that take place:
Easter egg hunts – The story of the Easter Bunny comes originally from German folk stories. The rabbit lays the eggs and delivers them to the children if they have been good over the Easter period. The children must follow clues to find them!
Egg painting – Eggs usually symbolise new life and represent the rebirth of Jesus. Children (and adults!) would paint real eggs in pretty pastel colours.
Hot cross buns – A delicious sweet treat usually lathered in butter and enjoyed with a cup of tea. The crosses symbolise the Christian belief that Jesus died on the cross for their sins.
Other Countries
Of course, there are many ways people celebrate Easter differently in other countries from how we mark it in the UK. Take a look at some of them here!
Ukraine – People throw water over each other on Easter Monday. It's known as Wet Monday and happens in other countries like Poland too. It's a tradition that is connected with the baptism of a Polish prince hundreds of years ago.
Sweden – children dress up as Easter witches and wear old clothes. Similar to our Halloween, kids walk around their neighbourhoods but instead they trade their artwork for sweets.
Haux, France – The residents serve an enormous omelette on Easter Monday. They use more than 4,500 eggs and feed up to 1,000 people.
Russia – It is common to boil eggs in beetroot juice or natural beetroot dye in order to turn them into a dark red/purple shade. This is an Eastern Orthodox Easter celebration where the colour represents the blood of Christ.
Easter Food
Now Easter wouldn't be complete without a tasty meal towards the end of the day (If you still have room after all those chocolate eggs!). Here's a list of popular meals from around the world:
Zurek – Poland
Le Gigot d ́Agneau Pascal – France
Cod Dishes – Brazil
Pashka – Russia
Pasca – Romania
Capirotada – Mexico
Pascualina Pie – Argentina
Tsoureki – Greece
Mona de Páscoa – Spain
Colomba Pascal – Italy
Mämmi – Finland
Pinca – Slovenia and Croatia
Chakapuli – Georgia
Souvla – Cyprus
Escovitch – Jamaica
Påskmus – Sweden
Do you have any traditions that you would like to share with us? Comment below!
