Easter started out as a Christian commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus, however, it has evolved over the centuries and many traditions have lost their religious meanings. Today, Easter is mainly celebrated as a family event, enjoying traditional Easter meals and engaging in egg hunts. Beyond that, many regions hold their own festive customs during these 5 days.
Explore this quick guide featuring the most important Easter traditions in Sweden and some unique customs from all around the world.
Easter witches in Sweden
The Swedish Easter decoration consists of a basket of painted eggs as a centerpiece on the lunch table and a bouquet of birch twigs decorated with colorful feathers. Originally, the feathers symbolized Jesus’ suffering, but now they are just a decorative ornament. A unique tradition takes place on Maundy Thursday, when children dress up as Easter witches and go from door to door wishing ‘Happy Easter’ and give handmade cards in exchange for candy and chocolate. The costume consists of colorful, often mismatched head scarfs, aprons, and long skirts, the look is completed with freckles and rosy red cheeks painted on their faces. The Easter dinner takes place on Holy Saturday when the family gathers around the table with food laid smörgåsbord style. The main dish is pickled herring, gravlax, and Jansson’s Temptation, which consists of potato, onion, and pickled anchovies baked in cream. Other popular options are salmon, lamb, and egg salad with anchovy or vegan options. An inevitable part of the Easter dinner is Påskmust, similar to the Christmas drink, Julmust. (But do not make the mistake of mentioning in front of a Swede that it tastes the same!)
Time for crime in Norway
While for most people Easter is a holiday filled with chocolate, painted eggs and time spent with family, in Norway this time is known as “Easter Crime”. Horror and thriller movies air on TV channels, and bookstores fill up with crime novels and detective stories. With three days off, Easter weekend becomes a five-day getaway for Norwegians, giving them the perfect opportunity to travel and entertain themselves with murder.
Omelette in France
In the French town of Bessières, many people gather in the marketplace on Easter Monday and watch as volunteers cook a giant omelette which is then handed out to both locals and visitors. The meal is big enough to feed 2000 people.
Splashing water in Central European countries
In Central European countries, such as Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary, on Easter Monday girls change clothes and wash their hair multiple times a day. Not because they are such divas, it is thanks to a unique custom of boys visiting relatives and friends and splashing water on the girls. In some regions, the custom is completed with gentle whipping for which boys use decorated pussy willow twigs. Upon arrival they start with a short poem that typically concludes with the phrase “May I sprinkle you?”. Don’t let this line fool you, it is merely a theoretical question, they will sprinkle anyway. In return, women give painted eggs, candy, money, or alcohol for the gesture, which has the purpose of keeping girls young and beautiful.
While in more traditional towns boys stick to the cold bucket of water, in other parts, men converted this custom into a mission to find the smelliest perfume in stores and spray that on women’s hair.
Delayed Easter in Orthodox countries
Since the Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar when setting the date for Easter, the date of the holiday differs. While the majority of the world celebrates Easter at the end of March this year, in Orthodox countries, such as Romania, Serbia, and Greece, Easter is set on the 5th of May.
Easter egg roll in the United States
In the United States, the tradition of egg hunt is completed with an egg roll race, when children roll hard-boiled eggs with the help of a stick to the finish line. The White House hosts an Easter egg roll event every year on Easter Monday, where the current president participates as the referee.
Easter bilby in Australia
On the opposite side of the globe, the icon of the holiday is the bilby instead of the typical bunny. This rabbit-like animal is an endangered species. You can find chocolates shaped like bilbies in Australian stores. This event is used to raise awareness and money to help protect the animals.
A common food on Easter in Australia, along with the United Kingdom and the United States, is the hot cross bun, which is a spiced bun filled with fruit, marked with a cross on top.
Students might think of Easter as a long weekend without school. For children it can be an opportunity to eat many sweets and enjoy the egg hunt. Meanwhile, for Christians it means the end of fasting and a time to commemorate resurrection in church. However, you think about Easter, traditions, family, and friends are essential parts of the celebration.
Happy Easter from the EDIT team.
Writer: Viktória Papp
