The Celebration of Easter: a mosaic of traditions

Easter is a magical time - a weaving of traditions, symbols, and rituals that vary from country to country, yet everywhere carry a sense of rebirth and joy.  

In Italy, the festive atmosphere begins on Palm Sunday, when olive branches, symbols of peace, are blessed in churches. This marks the start of Holy Week, a period rich in emotion, with processions filling the streets as they reenact the Passion of Christ. On Holy Saturday night, silence is broken by the ringing of bells announcing the Resurrection, and Easter Sunday becomes a feast of flavors: lavish meals, decorated eggs, and the famous Colomba, dove-shaped cake, evoking peace and hope. Easter Monday, or Pasquetta, is dedicated to outings - a tradition that spread after World War II to celebrate spring and the rebirth of life.  

Beyond Italy’s borders, Easter takes on unique shades. In France, for example, the silence of the bells from Good Friday is interrupted by their festive tolling on Easter morning, while children hunt for hidden chocolate eggs. In Germany, bare branches are adorned with colorful eggs and rabbit cutouts - symbols of fertility. The Easter meal features lamb, and bonfires in the countryside mark spring’s arrival, blending Christian and pagan traditions.  

In the Netherlands, Easter is a vibrant affair: homes fill with yellow hues, and children paint eggs that a mischievous bunny will "steal and hide”, sparking a playful treasure hunt. Finland merges Christian spirituality with ancient beliefs - children plant sprouting seeds indoors, while nights are alive with tales of witches flying across the sky, symbols of a magical world awakening with spring.  

In Greece, the Easter feast is a triumph of flavors: traditional bread, red-dyed eggs, and Maghiritsa, a lamb offal soup. But the highlight is the egg-cracking battle - a simple yet thrilling game where each guest tries to crack another’s egg until a champion emerges. In Russia, Easter is deeply spiritual: after midnight on Holy Saturday, faithful gather in procession, and on Easter Sunday, families picnic at loved ones’ graves in a poignant tribute.  

In England, Maundy Thursday is dedicated to charity, with the Royal Maundy ceremony where the sovereign gifts money to the poor. Good Friday features hot cross buns, honoring Christ’s Passion. Spain’s Palm Sunday dazzles with blessed olive branches and palms hung on doors for protection. The mona, a cake adorned with chocolate eggs or figurines, is gifted by godparents to godchildren.

Sweden celebrates Palm Sunday with birch and poplar branches, while children dress as witches, symbolizing how Christ’s Resurrection dispelled darkness. Decorated hard-boiled eggs star at the Easter table, mingling sacred and secular. Finally, Denmark turns yellow for Easter, Bulgaria deep-cleans homes for the feast, and in Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, youths revive fertility rites by playfully dousing girls with water.  

Easter, then, is a mosaic of traditions - uniting spirituality, folklore, and the joy of life. Each country adds its piece to this universal celebration, making it a unique time to celebrate rebirth, light and hope.