Each country has its own Easter celebration traditions. If you celebrate it and happen to be somewhere abroad at this time, it will be useful to know what customs the residents of other countries follow
England. In this country, Easter is even more important than Christmas. Before Easter, all schools in the country close for two weeks. The Easter liturgy ends at midnight. After that, everyone congratulates each other on the end of fasting and the beginning of a new life. Churches are decorated with tree branches with blooming buds, daffodils, and decorated eggs. After the Easter liturgy, it is customary to spend time with family, eat Easter cake, and treat each other to chocolate eggs.
Germany. Besides painted Easter eggs, Germans have other holiday symbols. For example, this is the Easter bunny, who is believed to bring colored eggs to children. Germany is considered the birthplace of the Easter Bunny. There is another symbol – an Easter tree decorated with eggs. And in Germany, there is also an old custom – the traditional horse ride.
France. The main Easter dish in France is fried chicken. The French decorate their homes with ribbons, garlands, and bells. A month before Easter, all shops in France start selling chocolate eggs, chickens, roosters, and rabbits. On Easter day early in the morning, parents hide chocolate eggs in the garden, and children, when they wake up, find them under bushes, in flowers, in grass; they put the eggs they find in a basket and eat them for breakfast.
Italy. Easter is one of the favorite holidays for Italians. On this day, they gather together with their families, arrange an Easter breakfast, eat painted eggs, cheese paska, and Neapolitan Easter cake. Also at Easter, roasted lamb or kid is prepared for the table. The holiday is not complete without a traditional meal in Vatican's main square, which is held by the Pope himself.
Spain. The Easter celebration in Spain begins with a morning liturgy and ends with a festive dinner with colored eggs and Easter cake. The whole week before Easter in Spain is Semana Santa, it's like Holy Week for us. At this time, many establishments are closed. Processions pass through the streets, whose participants dress in unusual clothes.
USA. In the United States, Easter is celebrated in different ways, as it is a multinational country. Easter street processions take place in many cities. There is a tradition when children come to the White House with baskets of painted eggs and participate in a contest – who will roll the egg further on the lawn. The traditional American Easter table consists of ham, potatoes, fruit and vegetable salad. The symbol of Easter in America is considered to be the lily.
Poland. In Poland, Easter is celebrated for two days. The whole family gathers at the table, and the meal begins with a prayer. Easter breakfast consists of blessed paska, eggs, horseradish, meat, and sausages. At Easter, it is also customary to bake "baba". "Baba" is baked from sweet yeast dough in huge cylindrical forms, and their filling can be very diverse: from marzipan to chocolate.
Bulgaria. Easter traditions in Bulgaria are not very different from Ukrainian ones. At Easter, a large number of colored eggs are laid around a large Easter bread. Like us, Bulgarians "clash" Easter eggs until a crack appears on one of them and wish each other luck. The luckiest person is considered to be the one whose Easter egg remains whole the longest.
Australia. Easter is celebrated here in nature. It is believed that on this holiday, the air becomes clean, and water in springs acquires properties similar to holy water. The main festive dish is roasted lamb or chicken, and for the sweet table, it is customary to serve meringue cake decorated with fruits. Like Germans, Australians prepare chocolate eggs for Easter. The most popular are eggs in the form of Easter bunny and bilby, a rare Australian animal. In addition, at Easter, an annual festival of large balloons made in the form of Easter eggs is held.
