Easter Traditions Around the World

Easter Traditions vary throughout the world. Each country has its own traditions and customs that are rich in historical and religious significance.

Easter in Greece

Christopsomon is a round flat loaf marked with a cross and decorated with colorful Easter eggs. The Christopsomon is a major part of the Easter feast. In Greece Easter is a very important family religious holiday. After fasting through the Lenten season the Easter weekend is filled with religious ceremonies, candle lit processions, a large feast and family gatherings. People carry a brightly colored egg on Easter day, when they meet another person they knock the eggs together and announce "Christ is risen."

Easter in Mexico

In Mexico many communities perform large lavish plays enacting the last supper, Judas' betrayal, the crucifixion, and the rise of Christ on Easter Sunday. These are usually lavishly performed and costumed. Mexican tradition includes the Santa Semana which is the holy week and also Pascua which is the Resurrection day. There are many parades and sadness throughout the week, on Sunday the sadness is lifted as this is the resurrection day and there is much joy and celebration.

Easter in Russia

Russians give brightly colored eggs as gifts, with the benediction "Christ is risen" on Easter Sunday. At midnight on Easter Eve the priests knock on the doors and all the people walk and sing songs of praise through the streets. Pussy willows are picked especially for the Easter holiday in Russia; the people tap others with them as a sign of good luck. Easter Sunday is celebrated with a great feast.

Easter in Ireland

After the solemnity of Good Friday, the Irish families have a traditional meal of roasted lamb and leek soup on Easter Sunday. After the meal there are celebrations, blessings by the priest, and the distribution of Holy Water. The Irish eat many eggs on Easter and also use colored eggs for egg rolling and other games.

Easter in Italy

The church bells are silent from Good Friday through Easter Sunday morning. When the church bells ring again the people kiss and hug each other proclaiming that Jesus is alive again. Children wake to find their homes decorated with eggs which they are told were brought back by the church bells from Rome where the bells had gone to see the Pope. Easter dinner includes agnellino which is a roasted baby lamb, and the table is decorated with colored eggs which have been blessed by the priest.

Easter in China

For over 3000 years the Chinese have painted the egg which is a symbol of fertility and spring a bright red color for spring celebrations.

All around the world Easter is a welcome to spring and a celebration by the religious of the resurrection of Christ. Many of these traditions begin many weeks before the actual day of Easter, with lent, carnival, and other celebrations, and processions representing the last weeks and days of Jesus' life on earth.

Sources: Easterbunnysnet, FireWorks