Do you ever wonder how the rest of the world celebrates Easter? Do they also have the Easter Bunny and eat chocolate eggs? Do they go to the church to remember how Jesus Christ rose from the dead? If you want to know how others celebrate this holiday, here are some Easter traditions around the world:
Easter Bilby
Australia considers rabbits as pests because they destroy the land. So, in the early 1990s, they replaced the Easter Bunny with Easter Bilby, a furry animal that looks like if a rabbit and a mouse had a baby. It has long ears like a rabbit’s and a long, pointed nose like a mouse’s. In addition, Australians also have Sydney Royal Easter Show where farmers get to showcase their crops and livestock to urban residents. During the event, there are also rides at the Sydney Royal Rodeo.
Fireworks and Cheese Wheels
There are different traditions around Italy. In Florence, a very old cart filled with fireworks is taken in front of the Duomo where thousands of residents watch them go off. Meanwhile, in Panicale, locals have a rather peculiar competition. They roll huge wheels of cheese around the village to celebrate Easter.
Mass Baptisms
The number of Catholics and Christians in China are steadily increasing. Currently, there are a hundred million Catholics and Christians in the country. During Easter, even more people are welcomed to the church with mass baptisms.
Mystery and Crime
Norwegians celebrate Easter by reading mystery books or watching crime detective series on television. These genres become very popular because these are their favourite pastimes during this holiday. Families and groups of friends also like to go on vacations to ski cabins where their favourite way to past the time is playing Yahtzee.
No Bells Ringing
Catholic bells in France don’t ring between Holy Thursday and Easter Vigil to commemorate the solemn three days that Jesus died and was buried. Children are also made to believe that they receive presents not from the Easter Bunny but from the Easter bells.
Re-enactment of the Crucifixion
In certain places in the Philippines, men self-flagellate themselves as they walk around towns to commemorate the last few hours of Jesus Christ’s life before he was crucified. The tradition ends with a real-life re-enactment of the crucifixion. Three men are crucified to wooden crosses where they are left hanging for a few minutes to a few hours.
Gift-Giving
For many people around the world, Easter isn’t complete without the tradition of giving gifts. Friends and family exchange presents to celebrate the holiday, with some parts of the world even considering it as a second Christmas! (Even though Easter technically happens before Christmas every year.) Children expect gifts from the Easter Bunny in the United Kingdom and the United States. If this is you’re tradition too, and you’re still looking for Easter gifts for friends and family members, check out The Works’ Easter collection.
So, these are the different Easter traditions around the world. Did we mention one of yours? On this holiday, try to bring some goodness into the world.
