25 Interesting Easter Traditions Around The World You May Not Know 

Easter is a special time when people celebrate the story of Jesus coming back to life. Around the world, people have their cool ways of celebrating Easter, and some of these might surprise you! While many of us look forward to egg hunts and chocolate bunnies, there are many different traditions. 

For example, Italy had a huge cart explosion called “Scoppio del Carro,” Spain had colorful parades during “Semana Santa.” These unique traditions show how special and different Easter can be in other places. Let’s go on a little adventure to discover some interesting Easter traditions from around the world that you might not know about. Check out the best Easter gift to celebrate the holiday

How Different Countries Celebrate Easter, Let’s Find Out 

Easter In the United Kingdom

Easter weekend is a special time in the UK filled with religious events and fun traditions. It starts on Good Friday and ends on Easter Monday, giving families four days to celebrate together. Many people attend church to remember Jesus Christ’s resurrection, a key part of Christianity. Enjoying hot cross buns on Good Friday and having a big meal with lamb on Easter Sunday are tasty ways people celebrate. 

Kids and grown-ups alike look forward to Easter egg hunts and getting chocolate eggs and many fun Easter activities for kids, which are symbols of new beginnings and the start of spring. Some places in the UK even have egg rolling contests, where people roll eggs down hills for fun, keeping old customs alive in today’s celebrations.

Easter In The United States

In the US, wearing a fancy Easter bonnet is a fun Easter tradition. People started wearing these special hats to church on Easter Sunday to show they were ready for a fresh start, especially when they wore new Easter clothes. This hat tradition is also linked to the end of Lent when people were saving money and not buying things like fancy hats. Once Lent was over, it was a treat to buy a new hat for Easter.

Kids love this tradition because they get to make their own Easter hats. In the 1990s, this was popular, and stores even sold kids’ kits to make their hats. Then, the kids could enter their homemade hats in contests to see who made the best one.

Easter In Greece 

People In Greece celebrate Easter with the Orthodox Church and have a special way of decorating eggs. Instead of using lots of colors, they only use one: red. These red eggs are really special because they stand for two things. The egg symbolizes new life, and the red color represents the blood of Jesus, showing that he has come back to life.

People put a lot of effort into making these red eggs look beautiful. They play with different shades of red; some even decorate them with fancy patterns and designs.

Easter In Ethiopia

People in Ethiopia uniquely celebrate Easter. Instead of feasting right away, people follow a fasting period similar to Lent’s, which people call “Fasika.” Fasika is the Amharic word for Easter, 55 days before Easter Sunday. 

During Fasika, people don’t eat any meat or animal products. This fasting continues until Easter Sunday. After the Sunday service, there’s a big celebration with lots of food, dancing, and time with family.

For Ethiopian Christians, Easter is even more important than Christmas dinner. That’s why they prepare so carefully for this special day. Learn how to celebrate Easter as a Christian.

Easter In Some Asia Countries

In many parts of Asia, where Christianity might not be the majority religion, Easter is observed more quietly by the Christian communities, focusing on church services and family gatherings. Despite the differences in celebration scales and customs, the underlying themes of renewal, hope, and joy are universally recognized and celebrated among Asian Christians.

Have a look at Easter quotes to send lots of wishes this holiday!

Easter In Canada 

Easter is a harmonious blend of religious observance and secular celebration in Canada, reflecting the country’s multicultural tapestry. Many Canadians participate in church services on Easter Sunday, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which lies at the heart of the Christian faith. 

The holiday also embraces a variety of family-oriented activities, such as Easter egg hunts for children, crafting Easter-themed decorations, and gifting chocolate eggs and bunnies that symbolize new life and spring’s arrival. Traditional meals, often including ham or lamb, gather families and friends at the dining table. In some communities, Easter parades add a colorful, communal aspect to the celebrations.

Easter In Bermuda

In Bermuda, Easter is a whole weekend of fun! It starts with the Good Friday KiteFest. People go to Horseshoe Bay Beach to fly their kites, which are usually big and bright and have cool shapes like hexagons or octagons. They even design the kites with a cross to fit the Easter theme. This tradition started because of a story about a Sunday school teacher who made a kite that looked like Jesus to help kids learn about Christ.

But there’s more than just kites. At the KiteFest, you can also enjoy tasty codfish and sweet treats. Special church services are on the beach as the sun rises. 

Easter In Australia 

National Geographic states that Australia views rabbits more as a problem than cute pets. That’s why, in 1991, a group called Rabbit-Free Australia had an idea to switch the Easter bunny for something called the Easter bilby. A bilby is an animal that looks a bit like a rabbit but is a type of bandicoot.

This switch seemed to work pretty well for Bilby’s popularity. Nowadays, lots of companies make chocolate bilbies for Easter, just like they do with chocolate bunnies. HuffPost says that when people buy these chocolate bilbies, some money goes to help save these endangered animals.

Easter In Israel

In Jerusalem, Israel, which is where many believe Jesus was crucified, people also have a special way of remembering Good Friday. They walk along the same path Jesus did on the day he was crucified. Some people even carry a cross to feel closer to what Jesus went through. Then, on Easter Sunday, lots of people go to the Garden Tomb for a church service, where many believe Jesus was buried.

Easter In Finland 

In Finland, a fun part of Easter is when kids dress up like Easter witches. They put on bright clothes and paint freckles on their faces. Depending on where they are in Finland, they do this on Palm Sunday or Holy Saturday. The kids carry willow branches decorated with feathers and colorful paper, knock on people’s doors, and say a special Easter poem to bring good luck and get a chocolate egg in return.

Easter In Luxembourgers

In Luxembourg, there’s a fun tradition called Bretzelsonnden, or Pretzel Sunday, which happens on the third Sunday of Lent. But don’t think of the salty snack you might be used to; these pretzels are sweet pastries with icing and almonds on top – honestly, they’re so good, I wish every Sunday was Pretzel Sunday. 

Here’s how the tradition goes: Guys give a pretzel to the girl they like on this special Sunday. If the girl accepts it, the guy can visit her on Easter Sunday, and she gives him an egg in return. On leap years, though, the roles flip, and the girls give pretzels to the guys.

Easter In Spain 

Over in Spain, in an old town called Verges, there’s a unique Easter tradition called the “death dance.” On Holy Thursday, people dress up as skeletons and act out parts of a story from the Bible. The parade ends with scary skeletons carrying boxes of ashes. This dance starts at midnight and lasts three hours into the early morning.

Easter In France 

If you’re ever in Haux, a town in the south of France, on Easter Monday, make sure you’re hungry and ready to eat with a fork. Every year, Atlas Obscura says the town makes a huge omelet in the main square – it uses over 15,000 eggs and can feed up to 1,000 people.

There’s a fun story behind this. It’s said that once, Napoleon and his soldiers were passing through the area and stopped to eat omelets. Napoleon liked his omelet so much that he asked everyone in the town to use their eggs and make a giant egg omelet for the army the next day.

Easter In Czech

In the Czech Republic, there’s a special Easter Monday tradition where boys make whips from willow branches and tie ribbons to them. They then lightly “whip” girls to wish them good luck and health. Not everyone likes this tradition, though. Many women in the Czech Republic don’t think it’s great to celebrate Easter. However, many believe it’s a crucial part of their culture and folklore.

Easter In Mexico 

Mexico has Easter traditions, including fireworks. On Holy Saturday, there’s a custom called the Judas Burning. People create big papier-mâché figures of Judas Iscariot and pack them with fireworks. Then, they blow up these figures in public squares.

Easter In Philippines 

The Philippines is where most people are Catholic; Easter is a very important time. Every year on Good Friday, in a place called San Pedro Cutud, some people get nailed to crosses to remember how Jesus was crucified. Even though the Catholic Church doesn’t agree with this, it happens every year, and lots of tourists come to see it.

Easter In Papua New Guinea

In Papua New Guinea, it’s too hot for chocolate Easter eggs to last. So, they came up with a different idea. Near churches, they hang tobacco and cigarettes on trees and branches. After church services on Easter Sunday, people get to take them.

Easter In Vatican

In Vatican City, the Pope leads a special event called the Way of the Cross on Good Friday. It starts at a big, old stadium called the Colosseum. People carry candles and walk around the stadium and up a hill, stopping 14 times to remember the Stations of the Cross, which are important moments from the story of Jesus.

Easter In New Zealand 

In New Zealand and some places in Australia, hot cross buns are not just a song kids learn; they’re a yummy Easter treat. Since Easter happens in the fall, just before winter starts, it’s the perfect time for these warm, cozy buns. People love having them during Easter – they’re comforting when the weather is getting cooler.

Easter In Northwestern European Countries 

In communities in Northwestern Europe, people begin a two-day party on Sunday by lighting a big bonfire.

These bonfires are called Easter Fires, and they were first started to say goodbye to the long, dark winter. Over time, they turned into a fun event where everyone in the community gets together to welcome spring.

These bonfires are probably still popular because they’re one of the first big gatherings after spending weeks alone in winter.

Easter In Norway

Easter is when many people in Norway love to snuggle up with a good book, especially crime novels, or watch crime shows on TV. This tradition started in 1923 because of a clever ad for a crime book that looked so much like a real news story that everyone talked about it. Since then, reading crime stories during Easter has become a big thing. Easter also helps people in Norway have free time to relax, ski, stay in cabins, and read.

Easter In South Africa

In places like South Africa, a special holiday called Easter Monday comes right after Easter Sunday. In the 1990s, the government decided giving everyone an extra day off would be nice. This way, people can have more time to relax and enjoy after all the Easter weekend fun.

It’s always great to have another reason to celebrate, and folks in South Africa really appreciate having this extra day to spend with their family and friends.

Easter In Antigua

In Antigua, a town in southern Guatemala, they prepare for Good Friday during Holy Week by decorating the streets with big, colorful carpets. These aren’t just carpets; people made them from flowers, colored sawdust, fruits, vegetables, and sand. People who make these carpets include pictures and scenes that greatly benefit them. These can be about their religion, old Mayan traditions, or stories from Guatemala’s history.

Some of these carpets are long, even up to half a mile! The artists use special patterns to put them together quickly because they only have 24 hours to make these beautiful artworks before the Good Friday parade.

Easter In Poland 

In Poland, there’s a fun Easter custom called Śmigus-dyngus, or Wet Monday. On Easter Monday, everyone tries to splash water on each other. People use buckets, squirt guns, or whatever they can find to soak their friends and family. An old story says if girls get wet on Wet Monday, they’ll get married within the year.

Easter In Italy 

There’s a very old Easter tradition in Italy that’s been around for 350 years called Scoppio del Carro, which means “explosion of the cart.” This tradition goes back to the time of the First Crusade.

During this event, a fancy cart filled with fireworks is pulled through the streets by people wearing colorful costumes from the 15th century. When the cart gets to the Duomo, the big church, the Archbishop of Florence lights a fuse during the Easter mass, starting a big fireworks show.

How Easter is Changing Around The World

Easter is a holiday that’s all about tradition, but it’s also changing in many ways worldwide. People are finding new ways to celebrate, mixing old customs with new ideas. For example, while many still attend church, have Easter egg hunts, and enjoy big family meals, others create new traditions. Some families now do virtual Easter egg hunts, where kids search for eggs online or they have a video call with family members who live far away to celebrate together.

In other countries, the changes in Easter celebrations can be unique. In some places, people focus more on eco-friendly practices, like using natural dyes for eggs or making decorations from recycled materials. There’s also a trend towards more inclusive celebrations, where communities come together to celebrate Easter in ways that respect different beliefs and traditions.

Despite these changes, the heart of Easter remains the same. Whether through traditional church services or modern, digital gatherings, the Easter spirit brings people closer, showing that even as the world changes, the essence of our celebrations can remain strong and meaningful.

Easter Tradition FAQs 

Why do we have Easter egg hunts?

Easter egg hunts are a fun way for kids (and adults who are young at heart) to get into the Easter spirit. The tradition comes from an old game that symbolizes new life, just like spring brings new life. Hiding eggs for others to find is like a mini-adventure, making the celebration exciting and joyful.

What’s the deal with chocolate eggs?

Chocolate eggs are a tasty treat that has become a big part of Easter celebrations. They started as a way to end Lent, a period when many people give up certain foods like sweets. The chocolate egg represents new life and the end of fasting, wrapped in a delicious chocolate form everyone loves.

Why do people eat fish on Good Friday?

Eating fish on Good Friday is a tradition for many, especially in Christian communities. It’s a way of remembering the sacrifice of Jesus Christ by avoiding meat as a form of fasting. Fish is chosen as an alternative, symbolizing a simple and humble meal that reflects the day’s solemnity.

How did the Easter Bunny become part of Easter?

The Easter Bunny is a cute animal that brings eggs and treats to children, similar to Santa Claus at Christmas. This tradition comes from old stories and customs about hares and rabbits, known for their lively springtime activity and as symbols of fertility and new life. It’s a playful way to add magic and mystery to Easter celebrations.

Is Easter celebrated on the same day everywhere?

Easter doesn’t fall on the same day every year; people celebrate it on different dates worldwide. 

This is because Easter Sunday happens based on the moon’s calendar. It’s on the first Sunday after the full moon that comes on or after the start of spring. Some churches follow the Gregorian calendar, while others follow the Julian calendar, leading to different Easter dates, especially between Western and Eastern Christian traditions.

Final Words From Loveable 

Easter is a special time that brings people together all over the world. There are many different traditions, from quiet church services to fun egg hunts and colorful parades. These Easter traditions show how people celebrate Easter in their unique ways. Still, they all share common themes of hope, renewal, and spending time with loved ones. Even as things change and new traditions emerge, the heart of Easter stays the same.