5 Easter Traditions from Around the World
Easter Sunday is only two days away, and many folks around the world have already begun celebrating this religious holiday in many unique ways.
Take a look at these five Easter traditions from around the globe:
Italy
Specific to the city of Florence, residents celebrate the ancient tradition of “Scoppio del Carro”, or “explosion of the cart”. It sees an ornate cart being loaded with fireworks, which go off after they are lit by the Archbishop of Florence during Easter mass.
The tradition is supposed to ensure a good harvest for the year ahead.
Bermuda
Flying home-made kites, attending a sunrise Easter mass on the island’s shores, and eating codfish cakes served on hot cross buns is a standard tradition in Bermuda.
The kites symbolise Jesus Christ’s ascent into heaven, while superstition dictates that if one did not eat hot cross buns on Good Friday, one’s house will burn down.
India
Easter is greatly celebrated in some Indian states. In the western state of Goa, for example, residents commemorate the occasion by hosting carnivals, putting on street plays, and performing songs and dances.
Residents also exchange gifts such as chocolates, flowers and colourful lanterns.
Australia
The Easter Bunny, who in folklore delivers chocolate eggs to children, is a universal symbol of this holiday – except in Australia, where rabbits are considered pests for destroying crops. Instead, Australians associate the occasion with bilbies, which are endangered rabbit-eared bandicoots.
Chocolate bilbies are manufactured by local companies, and the proceeds go towards their conservation.
Poland
Residents take baskets full of bread, sausages and coloured eggs among other foods to Easter mass to be blessed.
Then, on Easter Monday, young boys partake in “Smigus-dyngus”, where they lob water at girls using water guns, buckets of water and water balloons. Per legend, girls who are soaked will marry within the year.
