With Easter just around the corner, many will be planning a weekend of celebrations to mark this springtime festival. Egg hunts, fluffy bunnies, hot cross buns, and chocolate Easter eggs are all bound to feature in 2022 Easter events. But did you know there are a whole host of other, less well-known Easter traditions around the world?
We’ll take a look at some interesting ways people celebrate the festival of Easter and the reasons behind them.
Whip-cracking women in the Czech Republic
Easter Monday in the Czech Republic and Slovakia sees local males don the streets to lightly whip females with decorated ‘Easter Switches’. It’s said that whipping maintains their health, beauty, and fertility for the next year and it’s not uncommon for females to be offended if they haven’t been sought out to be whipped.
Giant omelette in France
On Easter Monday, the people of Haux in Southern France make a huge omelette using 4500 eggs. Feeding around 1000 people, this tradition was created by Napoleon and his army when they traveled through the region and ate omelettes in the town whilst on their journey.
Sticks of tobacco decorations in Papua New Guinea
Not a huge chocolate-loving country, unlike the UK, in Papua New Guinea, trees are decorated with tobacco sticks and packets of cigarettes as a place of worship throughout Easter. These are then handed out to church congregations after Easter services.
Crucifixion and flagellation in the Philippines
Each year, on Good Friday, a Filipino man chooses to express his faith by being crucified with four-inch nails on a wooden cross for a few minutes. This is a controversial way to celebrate the Easter festival and is discouraged by local authorities, however, the event still attracts a large crowd annually.
Wet Monday in Poland
Known as ‘Smigus Dyngus’, this takes place on Easter Monday with people throwing water over each other. Traditionally, males would soak females on Monday, and then the girls would get their revenge the following day. It’s said that the girl who gets the most water thrown on her will be the next one to marry.
Flying of homemade kites in Bermuda
Bermuda kites are usually colorful, homemade, and display vibrant geometric patterns. They’re flown on Good Friday each year to celebrate Easter and represent the resurrection of Christ.
Witches in Finland
Easter has many of its roots in Paganism and this is reflected in how locals in Finland celebrate the festival. Children dressed as witches will roam the streets asking for treats. Bonfires are also burned on Easter Sunday as it’s said to deter the witches that fly around over the Easter weekend.
It’s clear that every country across the world has different traditions when it comes to Easter celebrations. But, like here in the UK, the one aspect they have in common is the sense of community and locals coming together to mark the occasion.
