Easter celebrations around the world

 

Easter celebrations around the world

Easter has sadly become a largely secular holiday though, like Christmas, it is certainly rooted in a wonderful event in the Christian faith.

In the United States, it is common to see Easter bunnies and Easter eggs.  Jelly beans and chocolates abound.  Egg hunts and grassy baskets abound.  These traditions, very loosely based on the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, have taken on many forms around the globe.

In the Greek island of Corfu, earthenware pots are thrown out of upper-story windows and smashed onto the streets.  They believe this tradition started by copying a similar tradition in Venice, where new Christians threw possessions onto the street to symbolize throwing old things away and beginning their life anew.

Another Greek tradition is with red-dyed eggs.  Following midnight mass, each person cracks their egg against another person’s egg.  The ‘last egg standing’ is the winner and is supposed to have good luck that year.

In Poland, Ukraine, and a few other East European countries people throw buckets of water on each other the Monday after Easter, a celebration they call “wet Monday.”  This is to commemorate the baptism of a Polish prince over 1,500 years ago and the introduction of Christianity to that region.

In Scandinavia, on Easter children dress up and walk along the street asking people for candy and chocolates.  Sometimes, the children will exchange the candy for artwork they have spent time drawing. 

In some parts of Spain, Easter festivities take place beginning on the Thursday before Easter.  At night, some dress up in skeleton costumes and reenact scenes from the trial and crucifixion of Jesus.  The skeletons supposedly represent death.

In Australia, in 1991, a campaign ensued to replace the Easter bunny with the Easter bilby (a small Aussie marsupial).  Australia has a great problem with rabbits, which are considered pests and destroy crops.  Chocolate makers who make chocolate bilbies donate profits to help endangered animals.

As in Australia, in New Zealand fall is coming on when Easter is celebrated.  Because of the temperature change, many New Zealanders enjoy the season’s first hot cross buns on Easter Sunday.

Vanuatu, a Pacific Island nation north of Australia, makes Easter a national holiday – from Good Friday through Easter Monday.  On Easter morning, there is a traditional sunrise service – which must be absolutely beautiful in that area of the world.

In Ethiopia, Christian churches celebrate what they call ‘Faskia’ – which is the 55 days leading up to Easter Sunday.  This is a bigger holiday than Christmas.  People spend the 55 days fasting from meat and animal products.  The night before Easter is a somber, reflective vigil, but Easter morning breaks out in dancing and festive music.

In the Philippines, Easter is a major holiday.  Two processions happen: first the men walk through town, following an image of Jesus risen from the dead.  Second, the women walk through town following an image of Mary, mother of Jesus, wearing a black veil.  The two groups meet at the church to show Jesus comforting his mother after He was raised from the dead.  Then, young girls dressed as angels remove the veil from Mary’s face and the people celebrate His rising!

In southern France, a very unique thing happens on Easter in the small town of Bessieres.  The people of the town get together and crack over 15,000 eggs to make one giant omelet which is served with bread to visitors.  According to tradition, Napoleon traveled through there with his army and was served omelets by the residents.  Being his first taste of an omelet, the emperor stayed an extra day and had the town cook a single, giant omelet to feed his entire army.

In Bermuda, kites are flown on Good Friday.  Many years ago, a teacher wanted to illustrate to his students Christ ascending into Heaven.  He took the children outside and set a kite aloft, decorated with the face of Jesus. 

No matter how Easter is celebrated, it is important to remember the reason for the season.  Easter is a celebration of a risen Savior, a resurrected Lord.  The proper symbol of Easter is not a man dead on a cross, but an empty tomb, singing angels, and rejoicing disciples.  Easter is hope – a confident assurance in a Savior who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world, as well as for MY sins…and for yours.

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/10-different-ways-easter-is-celebrated-around-the-world.html

https://www.wycliffe.org/blog/featured/how-easter-is-celebrated-in-countries-around-the-world

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/how-countries-around-the-world-celebrate-easter