Discover how Easter is celebrated around the world, from Spain’s Semana Santa processions to Australia’s Easter Bilby.
Easter is a time of celebration, renewal, and tradition across the globe. While many people associate Easter with egg hunts and chocolate bunnies, the way it is celebrated varies significantly in different cultures. From religious rituals to festive food and fun family activities, Easter traditions around the world offer a fascinating look into the diversity of global customs. Let’s take a closer look at some of the unique Easter traditions practiced in different countries.
1. Easter in Spain – The Semana Santa Processions
In Spain, Easter is celebrated with much fervor, especially during the week leading up to Easter Sunday, known as Semana Santa (Holy Week). This week is marked by solemn and beautiful processions through the streets of major cities like Seville, Malaga, and Granada. Participants dress in traditional robes and carry religious statues and symbols, with many of the processions involving emotional displays of devotion. The celebrations are filled with music, prayer, and a sense of reverence, drawing thousands of visitors from around the world to witness this unique tradition.
2. Easter in Italy – La Pasqua and the Colomba Cake
In Italy, Easter is celebrated with family gatherings and festive meals. One of the most beloved traditions is the preparation of Colomba di Pasqua, a dove-shaped cake that symbolizes peace and resurrection. The cake is made with sweet, leavened dough and often topped with almonds and sugar. In addition to the cake, Italians also enjoy a special Easter Sunday meal that typically includes lamb, roasted vegetables, and Easter eggs, which are often exchanged as gifts to symbolize new life.
3. Easter in Australia – The Easter Bilby
In Australia, the traditional Easter Bunny is replaced by the Easter Bilby, a native marsupial that is an endangered species. The Easter Bilby was introduced in 1991 as part of an environmental effort to raise awareness about the plight of native wildlife. Australian children now look forward to Easter egg hunts featuring the Bilby, and many chocolate manufacturers create special Easter Bilby chocolates to promote this unique tradition. The change also serves as a reminder to care for the environment and protect Australia’s native species.
4. Easter in Greece – Holy Week and Tsoureki Bread
In Greece, Easter celebrations are steeped in religious significance. The week leading up to Easter, known as Holy Week, is filled with church services, processions, and special prayers. One of the most important traditions is the preparation of Tsoureki, a sweet, braided bread often flavored with orange and topped with sesame seeds. Greek families will gather for a festive Easter meal on Sunday, which traditionally includes lamb, salad, and Magiritsa, a soup made from lamb offal. The cracking of red eggs, symbolizing the resurrection, is another key custom in Greece, where participants try to crack each other’s eggs without breaking their own.
5. Easter in Sweden – The Easter Witch
In Sweden, Easter traditions are a mix of both religious and folk customs. Children dress up as “Easter witches,” wearing old clothes and colorful scarves, and go door-to-door in their neighborhoods, exchanging drawings and cards for candy, similar to Halloween. This charming tradition is based on the belief that witches fly to Blåkulla, a mythical place, during Easter. In addition to the witch costumes, Swedes also celebrate Easter with a traditional meal that often includes herring, eggs, lamb, and pastries.
6. Easter in Poland – Śmigus-Dyngus
In Poland, Easter Monday is known as Śmigus-Dyngus, a fun and lively tradition where people splash water on one another. This playful custom has its roots in both Christian and pre-Christian rituals. It is believed that getting doused with water on Easter Monday brings health and prosperity for the year ahead. Traditionally, young men would splash water on young women, though today it’s a more inclusive tradition enjoyed by people of all ages. The day is also marked with family gatherings and traditional Polish Easter foods such as Babka, a sweet Easter cake.
Easter is celebrated in many different ways across the globe, with each country putting its own unique spin on the festivities. Whether it’s solemn religious processions, fun family traditions, or delicious foods, Easter traditions reflect the diverse cultures and values of the communities that celebrate it.
