Happy Easter Weekend everyone! As spring temperatures finally start approaching [at least in the Northern hemisphere], we can start basking in the sunlight, appreciating the beautiful blooming flowers, and pulling out our clothes for warm weather. This Feature Friday, I wanted to highlight what Easter around the world looks like for different people. I reached out to the blogging community to see who would be interested in sharing, and a big thank you to all the bloggers who took the time to write about their personal Easter traditions, or a special Easter celebration they experienced!
Kylie from Between and Iowa:
“One Easter tradition in Iceland is the amazing chocolate Easter eggs produced by the Noi Sirius chocolate company! These eggs come in sizes 2 – 10 (2 being the smallest). They are decorated on the outside with flowers and a chick and the inside is jammed packed with all different types of sweets from hard boiled sweets to chocolate covered liquorice, to individual pieces to whole packets! Each egg also has an Icelandic proverb inside.
Anisa from Two Traveling Texans:
“The NYC Easter Bonnet Parade has been around since some time in the 1870s! The parade is just fun and more a spectacle of fashion than a religious event. A section of 5th Avenue blocked off to cars so that everyone can walk in the street and check out the best Easter bonnets and costumes. Every year, I am impressed with how creative and artistic people are with their bonnets. Then, there are also those random costumes that have nothing to do with Easter, like Abraham Lincoln, and the cute dogs dressed up. You never know what you will see at the NYC Easter Parade, but I can guarantee you it will be entertaining.” Find Anisa on YouTube.
myles & karen from the motoroamers:
“Imagine this… You’re in Andalucía, southern Spain, there is an air of anticipation as spring blossoms and you walk through the cobbled streets surrounded by iconic white-washed walled homes. Although there is something more. Crowds line the alleyways, a sombre atmosphere
builds and children are armed with multicoloured balls of wax. Something big is about to happen and it’s not the Spanish fiesta we’ve come to know and love from this area.
Semana Santa (Holy Week) is a Christian celebration of Easter, which is hugely significant in Andalucía and its ancient tradition captures the hearts of the community. Hundreds of locals come together for daily processions that move slowly and precisely through the streets. Elaborate statues of Jesus, crosses and candles are carried by pall-bearers and you cannot be part of the crowd without being touched by the mourning that this celebration represents. It is a unique experience irrespective of your own religion and it will leave you moved by their devotion.” Find Myles & Karen on Pinterest!
jacky from nomad epicureans:
“Easter in Finland is a curious mix of Christian as well as old Pagan traditions. In Western Finland, big bonfires are lit in an effort to deliver the community from evil spirits. For most Finns, however, Easter means Easter egg hunting and spending time with family. In addition, kids will dress up as the famous Finnish Easter witches. They will then go from house to house, carrying decorated willow twigs, and ask for sweets and candy in exchange for blessing people’s homes.
Apart from real eggs, Finns like to munch on the popular Fazer Mignon eggs, chocolate-nougat eggs encased in real egg-shells. A more traditional Easter dish is mämmi, a kind of pudding made from malt and rye. In East Finland pasha is another popular treat. Made primarily from animal proteins, it is mixed with dried fruits and nuts.
Hyvää Pääsiäistä!” Find Jacky on Facebook!
abby from the winged fork:
“Easter in the Indian Christian community is celebrated a bit different than in other countries. It also differs from culture to culture; and we have a lot of different cultures here in India. I’m East Indian, and no that doesn’t mean I come from the East of India. (So far we can trace our ancestry back at least 500 years in Bombay, the West of India.) East Indian is the name of our community, other communities being Goans, Mangloreans, Anglo Indians, Nagas, Khasis and more.
After our forty days of fasting are done, we do not go on Easter egg hunts like in Western culture. Rather, we visit our friends and family to give them Easter Eggs that are home made, and sometimes purchased from East Indian ‘aunties’ who sell them. Our Easter eggs are traditionally made of cashewnut or almond marzipan, and decorated with royal icing, as are our Easter bunnies, chickens, and bonnets. And let me tell you, marzipan eggs always top chocolate eggs. You can’t really beat tasty tradition!” Find Abby on Facebook!
Thank you again to all the bloggers who took the time to share with us their Easter traditions and their pictures. I’m always so fascinated that the same holiday can be celebrated in various places around the world, and each person, or community, or culture can honor the day in their own unique way! Happy Easter Weekend to all, and we would love to hear from you! Where do you live, and how do you celebrate Easter?! We love learning about Easter around the world!