Weird and Wonderful Easter Traditions
Whether you value the religious aspect, see Easter as a great opportunity to eat your body weight in chocolate (and who can blame you?) or just look forward to the double bank holiday weekend, we’re sure you’re counting down to the next big event on the calendar. Easter is quite late this year, giving you plenty of time to plan some alternative activities, as described in this blog we first published in 2012…
7 Fun Easter Traditions to Try
Easter is a big occasion in our house, not only is it a chance to munch your way through hollow eggs and packets of sweets safe in the knowledge that ‘it’s ok, it’s Easter’ but our tradition is to gather all the family and have an egg decorating contest.
With paint, stickers, ribbon and glue around, the poor unassuming free range offering doesn’t stand a chance of being left ‘au naturel’ around here.
Once you have adorned your eggs with glitter and glue and sat munching your chocolate bunnies, eggs, bars, reindeers (oh no wait, they were from Christmas) and hot cross buns this Easter think for a moment about the amazing and different traditions around the world that are being celebrated.
Easter is a time for feasting, celebrating and enjoying life. Aside from the gorge on the delicious stuff, it is a huge event around the world. Somebody somewhere right now is preparing to celebrate in their own way, be it sprinkling perfume, having an egg fight, igniting rockets or possibly watching murder mysteries.
Ooh I say. It is an honoured tradition in Czech Republic for a man to lightly spank or pat the object of their affections on Easter Monday with a special handmade whip called a pomlázka. In return the lady will usually pay some money or offer a decorated egg. This tradition is said to ensure that the recipient keeps their health and beauty throughout the year. In Slovakia the spanking is replaced by throwing cold water. We will not be responsible for any legal bills should you decide to try this in the UK!
In Hungary the day after Easter is named Locsoló Hétfő, ‘Watering Monday’, whereby water or perfume is sprinkled in the path of a loved one in return for an egg.
The release of pent up aggression is never an issue in Bulgaria, where once eggs have been lovingly decorated they are used as ammunition in a fight amongst pairs. The winner of the battle is the surviving egg. Contestants are highly celebrated in the community with an accompanying feast of roasted lamb, lettuce and a cucumber salad.
Let’s go fly a kite! In Bermuda the only time you will see a bright kite flying is at Easter. The colourful flying decorations are made throughout the year by Bermudians and are watched as they soar high while residents feast upon the traditional fare of fish cakes.
If you love a good episode of Poirot or Inspector Morse why not consider holidaying in Norway over Easter where a contemporary tradition of murder mystery based celebrations has developed. All TV networks broadcast the popular ‘who dunnit’ style shows and magazines all publish relevant ‘did she, didn’t she?’ stories. It would seem even beverage packaging is taken over in the run up to Easter, with milk cartons each being printed with a short mystery snippet.
Halloween comes early for the children in Finland and Sweden where they are encouraged to dress up as witches and venture out looking for sweets and other delicacies from neighbours in exchange for decorated pussy willow trees. And then home to a meal traditional cooked by the women of the family of eggs and fish…
Scoppio del Carro is the celebration in Italy at Easter where a cart filled with fireworks is ignited during Easter Sunday Mass. A rocket in the form of a dove is placed in the centre. The bird represents peace and the holy spirit. A successful display is said to ensure a good business and life ahead.
Whether you will be sporting your floral bonnet with pride this year or settling down to a few episodes of Wexford, just remember that a cocoa enriched egg and a Hot Cross Bun is for Easter, not just for life.
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