Author: Martina
Publication date: 03.04.2024
Easter is one of the most celebrated holidays in the world thanks to its two faces. During the week in which Easter is celebrated, in fact, the last moments of Jesus' life are retraced and at the same time this marks the passage from winter to spring.
This therefore has a religious and pagan part thus becoming a holiday felt by adults and children. During Easter, in fact, it is customary to gather for lunch among friends and relatives and exchange chocolate eggs, Easter doves and other goodies.
As we said it is a holiday that is celebrated in many parts of the world so let’s see what are the various most typical customs.
Spain
Spain is one of those countries where Easter is particularly felt. The celebrations are characterized by processions of Nazarenos (penitents incapucciati) that take place during the Semana Santa. Particularly famous are those in Andalusia in Seville, where tourists flock from all over the world.
In Barcelona it is celebrated on Palm Sunday, where the palms and palmos (the branches) are taken to the church to be blessed and then hung in the doors of the houses to protect them from the spirits of evil.
The typical dessert of Easter in Spain is the Mona de Pasqua. A sponge cake stuffed with almond icing, chocolate eggs and feathers, sweet donated by the godparents to their godchildren.
Italy
In Italy, Easter celebrations begin on Palm Sunday, when Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem is commemorated, Holy Wednesday, when Judas is betrayed and Holy Thursday, in memory of the Last Supper. On Friday we retrace the passion of Christ and the mourning of his death until midnight on Saturday. Finally, on Easter Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. On this particular day, the traditional procession symbolizes the encounter between Jesus and Mary. Also in Italy the religious symbols are palms and olive branches. The sweets are the typical Easter eggs and the Easter dove. In Italy it is also celebrated 'Easter Monday', monday after Easter Sunday.
France
French tradition has the theme of silent bells. In fact, these do not sound from Good Friday to Easter Sunday to respect the mourning and it is said to the children that they flew to Rome. On Sundays the children meet to see the return of the bells in heaven.
After this is traditional the Chasses aux œufs, the chocolate egg hunt. The typical meals of the Easter lunch are the angel, the pig and the eggs often cooked as omelets. For desserts, in addition to eggs, biscuits made in the form of lamb are typical.
Germany
In Germany it is tradition to beautify houses and gardens with colorful eggs, drawings of bunnies flowers and twigs during Holy week. In particular, the embellished eggs are then placed inside the Osterhase, the Easter rabbit that is hidden to carry out the treasure hunt on Sundays. In the southernmost part is common the tradition of fires lit with natural materials. These are then used on Sundays to light church candles, while the ashes are thrown into the fields for collection. The Easter lunch is based on lamb and also the typical dessert is shaped like lamb.
England
The Easter tradition in England is very selfless, in fact they are committed to helping the poor and the most needy with food offerings and helping the elderly.
In general, it is characterized by moments of fun such as the descent of the eggs where they are taken down from the hills into the parks and from the treasure hunts that have as a prize just the eggs. The traditional dessert is Hot Cross Buns, a cinnamon brioche and raisins with a cross made of icing.
Conclusion
This is just a short list of the Easter traditions of some countries, but you could continue to know those of all the various countries of the world and compare them with yours.
This shows us how beautiful it is to discover how different and equally beautiful customs and traditions hide behind the same party.
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