At Easter, families come together to celebrate the Feast of Spring and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Often, they practice all sorts of bizarre customs during these celebrations.
Cheese race in England
For example, in England, there is an annual cheese hunt. This custom probably originated in the 19th century and involves participants in a race to catch a round delicacy launched down a steep cliff. When the nearly four-kilogram loaf rolls down the hill, it can reach speeds of up to 112 kilometres per hour and is almost impossible to catch. As well as the cheese itself, the winner takes away a warm feeling of satisfaction that they survived this dangerous race without any broken bones.
The dance of death in Spain
Slightly less dangerous, but no less special, is the Easter custom in the Spanish town of Verges, where an annual procession called the “Dansa de la Mort” (Dance of Death) takes place. Participants dress up as skeletons and dance through the streets to the sound of drums. But perhaps the biggest attraction of Spanish Easter are the famous processions. Those in Seville are among the most famous. Its main members are the so-called Nazareths, dressed in monk’s cassocks, with a cloak draped over their shoulders and wearing unmissable conical hoods on their heads with holes only for their eyes, so they can’t see each other’s faces. They carry large candles in their hands, some of them walking barefoot. It is a great honour to be in the procession, some waiting up to 15 years to walk at the head of the procession.
Bilby in Australia
Let’s move now to the other side of the globe, to Australia. There, the Easter custom is associated with the protection of animals. Instead of the traditional Easter bunny, they have the Easter bilby – a small marsupial the size of a rabbit, which is an endangered species in Australia. In an effort to raise awareness of the dwindling bilby population, confectioners in Australia have started making chocolate likenesses of the animal. By selling their chocolate figurines, locals are supporting the conservation of this cute animal. Every bite helps save them.
Crucifixion and flogging in the Philippines
In the Philippines, they have an Easter custom that is not for the faint of heart. Some locals volunteer to be crucified to commemorate Jesus’ suffering. This custom is controversial and is not officially sanctioned by the Catholic Church, but for many Filipinos it is an important expression of faith. They believe it helps to cleanse them from the sins of the world.
Norway is full of detective stories
In Norway, they have a very unique custom at Easter called “påskekrim” (Easter crime). People escape to their mountain huts and spend the weekend there with the TV. They watch crime series or read crime novels. Traditionally, there are also many short comic detective stories that come out and you will get the unravelling on Easter Monday. You can even find them on milk cartons or chocolate wrappers.
Cheese ornaments in France
While most of us are decorating eggs, in the village of Bessières in France, there is an annual competition for the most beautiful and tasty Easter egg made from cheese! But the people of Haux honour another unusual custom. They crack more than 4,500 eggs and cook a massive Easter omelette for more than 1,000 eaters in a giant frying pan. The tradition is said to relate to Napoleon and his campaign across southern France. He is said to have ordered the locals to gather all the eggs and feed the starving army.
The Battle of the Eggs in Greece
If you are competitive and love an adrenaline rush, try a Greek Easter custom. On the night of Saturday, Greeks swap eggs and knock their tops against each other. Whoever’s eggs stay unbroken the longest is considered lucky, gets to make a wish and is said to be lucky all year round. Attention! In Greece you will only find red eggs. Red is the colour of life, as well as the colour of the blood shed by Christ. The Greeks dye them on Maundy Thursday and believe they will last for forty days without refrigeration, but if the priest blesses them on Easter Sunday, they can be eaten all year round.
Spiritual fires in Croatia
Easter bonfires are a common tradition in Croatia, where people gather to sing songs and celebrate Jesus’ resurrection together. High fires of “krijesova” are prepared and lit on Easter morning. The preparation of the highest one takes several weeks. The stacked wood rises up to 20 metres before it is lit.
Hare hunting in New Zealand
While the rest of the world dyes Easter eggs, the people of Otago grab their guns and head out on the annual “Great Easter Bunny Hunt”. The aim is to rid the farmland of “invasive pests”. More than 500 hunters are competing for a coveted trophy and a cash prize of NZ$3,500.
As you can see, the Easter customs are cross-country, cross-world varied. Whether it’s chasing cheese, dancing with death, or whipping up pom poms, the common denominator is celebrating life and sharing joy with loved ones. So next Easter, why not hit the road and try some of these special things for yourself!