What is Easter?

Easter Sunday is the Sunday, following the first full moon, after the spring solstice March 21.

Easter means passage. For Christians, Easter is the passage from death to life, the resurrection of Jesus, who died on the cross. For Jews, it is the crossing of the Red Sea when Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt.

Easter is the most celebrated religious festival in the world, whether by masses, worship or religious processions. Many pagan festivals took place to celebrate spring, religions were assimilated to these festivals to reconcile Paganism and Christianity.

Easter processions

In all countries celebrating Easter, numerous processions take place.

The Holy Week processions in Mendrisio in Switzerland have been included by UNESCO on the representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. On Thursday, the Procession of Passion and Death takes place: Legionnaires on horseback, bugles, Jesus carrying his cross and Veronica her shroud cross the city representing the ascension to Calvary. Friday, it is the Sadness and Devotion procession: Jesus and the Virgin Mary are carried by churchmen. The spectators remain silent by respect.

In Ouro Preto in Brazil, the religious procession is four km long. The course is decorated with flowers, sand and sawdust representing religious themes.

Why eggs?

Eggs are Easter like gifts are Christmas. The egg is a symbol of rebirth, renewal and spring. Traditionally, the Easter Egg is dyed red to represent the blood of Christ and his resurrection.

The egg was first a hard-boiled egg, then an eggshell filled with liquid chocolate, before reaching its final form, a chocolate egg. It is dyed, decorated, hidden, rolled and hunted. Today, in many countries, huge egg hunts are organized at Easter, including at the White House. Eggs can also be tapped together to see which shell is the strongest and impressive quantities of eggs are eaten over the weekend.

In Haux, France, a giant omelette is prepared on Easter Monday. In 2023, the omelette contained 15,000 eggs and was cooked in a four meters diameter frying pan.

Why a rabbit?

Eostre was the Viking goddess of fertility and spring to the Anglos and the Saxons, hence the name Easter in English and Ostern in German. The animal of Eostre was the hare. Also, according to a Saxon legend, children, hunting for eggs, found them thanks to a rabbit. Since then, the Easter Bunny has been bringing eggs. This is custom is adopted in many countries.

Customs and traditions

Belgium and France: Church bells

In both countries, church bells do not ring from Thursday to Saturday out of respect for the death of Jesus. Legend says that the bells go to the Vatican to be blessed by the Pope. On Easter Sunday, they sprinkle their return with chocolates.

Finland: Witches

The Sunday before Easter, little girls dress up as witches. Dressed in old clothes of all colours, their faces covered with freckles, they go from house to house with willow branches decorated with feathers and multi-coloured paper. When the door opens, they wave their branches and sing the magic formula to ward off evil spirits: “Virvon, varvon, tuoreeks terveeks, tulevaks vuodeks; vitsa sulle, palkka mulle! » (“I wave my branch here; I wave it there: health and happiness to you for the coming year! To you this branch, to me a gift!”). As thanks, they receive chocolate eggs or coins.

Poland: Water fights

Easter Monday in Poland is Śmigus-Dyngus: The festival of water, a symbol of life and renewal. Originally, young men whipped the legs of young girls they fancied with willow branches and sprinkled them with water.

Today, water fights are practiced by everyone, even the firefighters. Similar traditions also exist in other countries such as Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.

Crete, Greece: Throw it out

During the Easter period, church bells ring a special harmony: “the Cretan melody”. On Saturdays, after the 11 a.m. mass, throughout the island, residents throw objects out their windows. Traditionally they threw out clay pots but today, pots have been replaced by diverse other objects.

Bermuda: Kites

On Thursday, the inhabitants of the island build kites. They launch them at the

“Kite Festival”, the following days. The custom comes from a teacher who wanted to show his students how Jesus ascended to heaven.

Norway: Crime Stories

Norwegians take advantage of Easter week to go to their chalet. They ski, hike, but above all, they read crime novels or Påskekrim. The television also programs many films and crime series during this period.

Whether you are celebrating mass, hunting eggs, welcoming witches or organizing a big meal with family or friends, take advantage of the long weekend to regenerate. Spring is finally here!