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Easter Around The World

Easter Egg

The thought of a long weekend, eating chocolates and feasting with family makes me very excited for this mini-break to come. While my traditional Easter involves Egg Hunts and the Easter Bunny, I was fascinated to learn of the diverse customs around the world. Here are five countries that have a rather interesting way of celebrating Easter.


Haiti celebrates Easter with parades and music. A large number of Haitians are Catholic, while another large portion of them practice Voodoo as their religion. The two religions combine for the last week of Lent, known as Holy Week, as the citizens take part in parades and enjoy â€œRaraâ€ music. Rara music is practised to celebrate Voodoo culture and also to pay respects to ancestors. The music in the parades is usually played on drums and bamboo trumpets, and some chanting is involved too. Animal sacrifices are also included in the celebrations at times. So if youâ€™re in Haiti during Easter, don't miss the festivities - definitely a far cry from Easter Bunnies and chocolate.

Haitian Easter CelebrationsHaitians use Voodoo and Rara music to celebrate Easter. Â© Carlos Cazalis


Easter celebrations here are little easier to identify with thanks to Switzerland being the land of chocolate... the rest of the traditions are purely Swiss though. Traditionally, a cuckoo bird brings the Easter Eggs. Then on Good Friday, two statues are marched through the streets - one of Christ and one of his mother, Mary. Swiss parents also take part in a fun game with their kids called Zwanzgerle, which involves adults trying to break the childrenâ€™s eggs with a 20 cent coin. If theyâ€™re unable to break it, the kid gets the coin and the egg - a double Easter treat and a nice way for them to collect a little pocket money over the long weekend.

Christ and Mary StatueIn Switzerland, people walk through the streets with Mary and Christ statues


Mexico enjoys celebrations throughout Holy Week, or Semana Santa, specifically hosting elaborate passion plays. Also during this week, as part of a superstition, locals hang beautifully woven palms outside their front doors to ward off evil. The biggest Mexican Easter celebration takes place in the small town of Iztapalapa (just a few miles from Mexico City) - where some 450 locals take part in the passion plays. The plays started in 1833 and depict moments from biblical times such as The Last Supper, The Crucifixion and The Resurrection. These plays attract over one million visitors each year. If youâ€™re in Mexico at Easter, itâ€™s a great opportunity to dive into the culture and history of the country.

A passion play in MexicoPassion plays attract a million visitors to Mexico during Easter. Image courtesy of Tomas Castelazo


After a cold winter, Germany is not only enthusiastic about Easter, but also uses this time to welcome back the much anticipated spring season. Food plays a major role in the festivities, such as green dishes on Maude Thursday - a very specific green soup made from only green ingredients such as leeks, parsley, peas and herbs. Fish and lamb feasts are also part of Easter in Germany. Easter Sunday brings crowds of people together around huge bonfires - a tradition originally started even before the birth of Christ to welcome spring and get rid of bad omens. People visiting Germany this time of year wonâ€™t fail to notice the many Osterstrauch all over the place and in the windows of homes, as well as in locals' front gardens. An Osterstrauch is an Easter Tree, similar to the Christmas Tree, except itâ€™s decorated with hollowed out eggs that have been coloured and decorated.

An Easter TreeAn Osterstrauch, also known as Easter Tree - a typical German tradition


Prepare yourselves for a completely different Easter if you happen to be in Sweden. The Swedish believe that on Easter Eve and Easter itself, witches fly on their broomsticks to Blockula - a mystical meadow that can only be accessed by flight. Legend has it that they go there to meet the devil - not exactly the chocolate and bunny story weâ€™re accustomed to, is it? Children dress up as hags and witches by wearing old, torn clothes, long skirts and red painted cheeks. They then partake in a trick-or-treat type of custom where they go to peopleâ€™s homes with drawings and paintings in exchange for sweets. It's likely to feel more like Halloween than Easter if you're celebrating it in Sweden.

Swedish Easter EggsSwedish Easter Witches

Do you have any unique Easter traditions? Let us know in the comment box below.

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Zoe Harrington

Zoe Harrington
