Spring is upon us, and we all know what that means! No, not walks in the newly emerging sun, or watching cute little birds hatch. We’re talking about chocolate Easter eggs, of course! But do you know where this tradition came from? No? Well put your feet up, crack open one of those wonderful gold foil-covered chocolate eggs, pretend it’s the first one you’ve had today, and let Zazzle tell you about weird and wonderful Easter traditions from around the world.
Germany – Easter Bunny
This adorable furball has long been considered a sign of spring and new life, due to its, er, multiplying properties. It originated from Germany, and was traditionally a hare known as “Oschter Haws”. A hare was the symbol of the Goddess of Dawn and Fertility, Eostre (which is where we get the word “Easter”). Legend has it that Oschter Haws would hop to every house and lay colorful eggs for children who had been good. This is where we get the custom of painting and decorating eggs at Easter!
Different cultures have different depictions of Easter creatures. In Switzerland, you might be visited by the Easter Cuckoo; in Westphalia, you might catch a glimpse of an Easter Fox; and in Australia, children hope to be visited by the Easter Bilby!
United States – Chocolate, Easter Egg Roll
As German settlers arrived in America, they brought with them their longstanding Easter traditions. The custom of painting and decorating eggs (a symbol of new beginnings) began to spread and evolve in the US. The custom eventually evolved to eating gold foil-wrapped chocolate eggs.
A uniquely American tradition is that of the White House Easter Egg Roll. The tradition dates back to 1878, when then-President Rutherford Hayes opened up the White House gates and allowed children to come and play egg-rolling games on the lawn. Since then, the event has been hugely popular, with the lottery for tickets growing every year. In recent times, the surrounding attractions have made the overall event a spectacular day out where White House personalities can rub elbows with the general public.
Slovakia – Whip Cracking & Water Sprinkling
In Slovakia, it’s an age-old custom for men to pour water over the women of their village, and then lightly whip them with the branches of a willow tree on Easter Monday. The willow tree is the first to blossom in spring, so it is said that being whipped with the branch will bring fertility and new life, while the water brings beauty, according to Slovakian tradition. In more modern times, the buckets of water have been replaced with bottles of perfume, cups of water, or even water pistols. In more rural villages, people still wear traditional outfits for the occasion.
France – World’s Biggest Omelette
If you reach your fill of chocolate eggs and find yourself needing something savory, France is the place to go! Every Easter in Bessières, France, the Brotherhood of the Giant Omelette prepares a 15,000-egg omelette in the street for the people of the town – totally free of charge. The custom is said to have originated when Napoleon Bonaparte visited the area, and enjoyed their omelettes so much that he asked for a giant one to be cooked for him. The tradition began in the 1970s, and a dedicated group of local chefs don their best chefs’ hats and giant wooden spoons to create an over-sized omelette to feed the masses!
Finland – Witches
Finland seems to be mixing it up a little, and has added a touch of Halloween to its Easter celebrations. Every Easter, Finnish children dress up as witches and go door-to-door, driving away evil spirits with branches and sticks that they decorate with feathers and cotton wool. They are paid for this fearsome service in delicious Easter treats such as chocolate eggs or coins.
Norway – Crime Literature
You know what goes really well with springtime flowers and Easter bunnies? Gruesome crime novels! Well, maybe not, but the Norwegians love them. It’s a beloved part of Norwegian Easters to read or watch crime stories, which they call Påskekrims. The custom began in 1923 with a hoax. In order to publicize an upcoming book, a publisher posted the title of the book on the front page of a national newspaper the week before Easter. “Bergen Train Looted In The Night” caught people’s eyes, and many believed the headline to be true. When the book was eventually launched, the controversy helped it rocket to success. The novel itself is set at Easter, and so the link between it and crime novels began.
Bermuda – Hot Cross Buns
We all know and love hot cross buns. With the sweet-spiced fruit and the traditional white cross on the top, it really isn’t Easter until you have one of these delicious treats! If you’re from Bermuda, however, it may be more than a craving that makes you want to eat these festive favorites. Bermudian legends tell that if you did not eat a bun on Good Friday, then your house would burn to the ground. We don’t need a reason to eat these treats, but if we did, that would be a pretty compelling one!
Well, that’s it! Those are just a few of the wonderful Easter celebrations from around the world. Have we missed one? Let us know what your Easter traditions are in the comments below!
