6th April 2023

Easter is celebrated all over the world - but it isn't celebrated in the same way. Here is a list of some traditional or kookier ways people mark the event.

Greece

In Greece, they dye eggs red to symbolise the blood of Jesus Christ. Traditionally, this used to be done by women on Maundy Thursday with a dye found in red onions. Still, nowadays, you can buy them already dyed red.

On Easter Saturday, after returning home from a church service, Greek families would try and crack each other’s eggs. One person will hold the egg, and another will hit it. The person left with the uncracked egg is the winner and is said to have good luck for the coming year.

Bermuda

On the island of Bermuda, there is a kite-flying festival on Good Friday. People head to Horseshoe Bay and fly their homemade kites, brightly coloured and in a range of different shapes, although most have a cross-part to the structure. Anyone can compete in the festival with Best Traditional Kite and Most Innovative Design categories.

It is said that a Sunday school teacher was looking for a way to describe the Ascension, so launched a kite that looked like Jesus and a new tradition was born.

Australia

In most countries, the Easter Bunny traditionally brings children chocolate eggs, but in Australia, it’s the Easter Bilby! In 1991, a campaign was launched to replace the Easter Bunny with the Easter Bilby.

In Australia, rabbits are considered pests for destroying crops and land and they wanted to draw attention to the conservation of the native Australian marsupial, so a trend was born. Instead of chocolate bunnies, confectionery firms make chocolate bilbies for people to enjoy, with a portion of the proceeds going to support the conversation of these cute little creatures. Delicious chocolate and supporting wildlife - what’s not to love?

Italy

There are several different traditions in Italy for Easter. In Rome, the Pope holds mass on the Good Friday at 5 pm in St. Peters Basilica, and then he starts his walk of the 14 stations of the cross, ending at the Colosseum. Hundreds of pilgrims follow with lanterns and torches.

Over in Florence, they celebrate the Scoppio Del Caro – or as it translates – Explosion of the Cart. This dates back to the First Crusade and the first knight said to breach the wall of Jerusalem, which was Pazzio De Pazzi from Florence. He was given three pieces of stone from Jesus’s tomb to honour his bravery. At Easter, these were set alight, and each person was handed a torch from the fire to represent purification. It has since evolved into an elaborate affair. 

In 1622, a cart was built to house the stones, and this is pulled through the streets by oxen. It parades through the streets of Florence and arrives at the Duomo at 11 am on Easter Sunday. The Archbishop lights a dove-shaped rocket that flies down a wire and collides with the wagon. The wagon, rigged with fireworks, then explodes into a beautiful display accompanied by an uproar of cheers from the crowd. It gets very crowded, so get there early to see it.

Norway

In one of the more bizarre and leftfield Easter traditions – in Norway, Easter is a time for indulging in crime fiction, both in print and on-screen. Cosy up in a log cabin and scare yourself senseless –Påskekrim is here! The tradition dates back to 1923. Two authors wrote a crime novel. The publisher Gyldendal took out a front-page newspaper advertisement promoting the book, based on a train robbery on Norway’s famous Bergen line.

So many people mistook the ad for an actual story rather than a publicity stunt that it was a massive hit. The characters were two students who skied from cabin to cabin during the Easter break, and it’s been the thing to do in Norway ever since. Bookstores in March start clearing the shelves to ensure they have a Påskekrim selection of crime novels ready.

Great Britain

The spicy fruit hot cross bun, traditionally eaten on Good Friday, was said to be first made by the monk, Thomas Rocliffe in 1361. The cross was popped on top, and the monks would give these sweet fruit buns to the poor. They went down so well, that news spread around the country. They were banned for a while in Tudor times when Elizabeth I decided they were too closely linked to the catholic faith, but eventually fell back into favour and by the 1700s, they became enjoyed by all again.

The flavour combinations available now may deviate from the original recipe. Find varieties including marmite, chocolate orange and rhubarb and custard flavours. Still, our love for the humble hot cross bun has not diminished. Tesco reportedly sold over 70 million packs by the end of Easter weekend.