By Krystle J Bailey
Church, peeps, Easter egg hunts, bunny pictures, and big dinners. That’s the traditional American Easter celebration, but what about worldwide? Easter, at its roots, is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, though, over the decades, the holiday has become commercialized and celebrated in different ways by different cultures and religions.
Let’s take a look at some of the different ways Easter is celebrated around the world.
Florence, Italy
For over 350 years, Italians have celebrated Easter with a tradition known as Scoppio del Carro, or “explosion of the cart.” The yearly event features an ornate cart filled to the brim with fireworks. Led by people in 15th-century costumes, the cart makes its way to the Duomo (Latin for the house of God) where following Easter mass, the Archbishop of Florence lights the fireworks to signify a forthcoming good harvest.
Bermuda
On the small, historically rich island of Bermuda, Easter weekend is filled with kites and hot cross buns. Beginning on Good Friday, Bermudians gather on Horseshoe Bay to participate in the annual kite contest, where they fly homemade kites of all shapes and sizes. Legend has it that a Sunday school teacher once flew a kite that looked like Jesus to visually teach children about Christ’s ascension. From there, the Good Friday Kite Festival was born. Bermudian Easter cuisine typically includes codfish cakes and hot cross buns, which began as a superstition that if a homeowner did not eat hot cross buns on Good Friday, their home would catch fire. The weekend culminates in Easter sunrise service at various churches around the island.
Bessières, France
15,000 eggs, 1 omelet. This unique tradition began in 1973 on Easter Monday. Legend has it that when Napolean Bonaparte traveled through France, he spent one night in Bessieres. After enjoying an omelet from a local chef, he ordered the townspeople to gather in the village to collectively enjoy an omelet. The tradition has grown exponentially over the decades, once requiring only a few thousand eggs, the annual Easter omelet now includes over 15,000 eggs. The eggy ritual has also expanded to neighboring French towns.
Germany
Easter fires are a tradition that spans hundreds of years. From small candles to large bonfires, the fire signifies different things for different people. The tradition has evolved from what once was a way to usher in Spring and banish the cold of Winter to the Christian meaning that symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus, the light of the world. In more recent years, Easter fires have become a social gathering with plenty of food and drink. Fires typically stay lit through Easter Sunday and in some locations, continue through Easter Monday, which is a national holiday in Germany.
Corfu, Greece
On Holy Saturday on the Greek Island of Corfu, the streets are filled with broken pots. The annual “pot throwing” known as the “botides,” which is believed to have started between the 14th and 18th centuries, is said to ward off bad spirits. The exact origin of the tradition is unclear, however many locals believe that the pot throwing welcomes spring, symbolizing the new crops that will grow this season. Spectators come from far and wide to witness the Easter tradition, typically taking a small piece of a broken pot home with them to symbolize good fortune and a fresh start.
From religious rituals to cultural superstitions and everywhere in between, the common thread on Easter weekend is always time with family. However you celebrate, enjoy your time with the ones you love, take a deep breath, and look forward to the warmth of Spring.
Krystle J Bailey. Multimedia journalist, Author, Poet.
Connect with Krystle on Instagram @thedailybailey5
