Created by : Petra Osztrosics Rebeka P

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Easter in Europe

• Created by Petra Osztrosics Rebeka
  Pál

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One of the holiest festivals in the Christian
calendar, Easter, is celebrated around the
world, with great fanfare and religious fervor.
While the religious observations of the
festival follow the Christian church, the basic
contours of Easter celebration may vary in
different countries, due to regional
influences. These variations straddle almost
all the aspects of Easter celebration. In the
majority of countries, Easter bunny is the
prominent Easter symbol, while in France,
Easter fish and bells are the major Easter
icons. Pre-Lent carnivals are held across the
world, with Rio de Janeiro carnival being the
most famous one. In many Eastern European
countries, Easter egg decoration is an integral
part of Easter celebrations.
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However, in today's age of rampant
commercialization, the religious significance of
Easter is fast losing its relevance. People are
increasing embracing the festive aspect of the
festival and Good Friday and Easter Monday have
become a welcome extension to the weekend and a
chance to go on the first spring vacation. Over
the years, the festival has taken the shape of a
wonderful occasion to hang around with the long
lost friends, close relatives and family members,
and to have a lot of fun together. In our related
section, know all about Easter celebrations
around the world.
In many parts of Europe, huge bonfires are
lighted on hilltops and in churchyards on Easter
Eve. They are sometimes called Judas fires,
because effigies of Judas Iscariot are frequently
burned in them. The Easter bonfires predate
Christianity and were originally intended to
celebrate the arrival of spring. The burning
effigy once symbolized winter.
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Easter in Italy Italians call it La Pasqua.
The Easter is celebrated with a real big feast
in this Mediterranean country. The Paschal
feast is celebrated with Agnellino, Italy's
special popular dish for the Easter. This is a
roasted baby lamb. Children enjoy a rich bread
made specially for the Easter. It is shaped like
a crown and studded with colored Easter egg
candies.

Easter in Germany The German call it Ostern,
possibly by the name of the Anglo Saxon goddess
of spring, Eostre. School children have about
three weeks holiday at Easter. No one works on
Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday.
Many people eat fish on Good Friday and on Easter
Saturday evening there is often a big Easter
bonfire. This is very popular and lots of people
gather to watch. These Easter fires are burnt as
symbols of the end of the winter and any bad
feelings. On Easter Sunday families have nice
breakfasts together. Parents then hide Easter
baskets with sweets, eggs and small presents.
Hand-painted eggs decorated with traditional
designs are exchanged among friends. Earlier, it
was customary in many regions for the village
girls to present their suitors with a red
egg.Many eat fish on Good Friday.
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Easter in Netherlands The Dutch call it Pasen
or Pasen Zondag.Throughout the country Easter is
celebrated as a great spring holiday. People lay
tables for Easter dinner with charming decoration
of colored eggs and early flowers. Sweet bread
stuffed with raisins and currant, is one of the
favorite dishes of the Easter feast.
Easter in Sweden The Swedish call it
Påskdagen.Throughout the country the egg, symbol
of life and resurrection, is featured in all
Easter food and Easter games. Every household has
egg coloring parties. Egg rolling contests are
the favorite Easter activity of younger boys and
girls.Palm Sunday is observed with palm fronds.
The Easter Eve is celebrated with bonfires.
Shooting of fireworks lives on as the tradition.
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Easter in Russia Easter in Russia is
celebrated according to the rituals laid down by
the Eastern Orthodox Church. Apart from
differences in rites and rituals, the bone of
contention between Western Christians
(Protestants and Roman Catholics) and the
Eastern Orthodox Christians is the date of
Easter celebration. In determining the vernal
equinox, the Eastern Church uses the Julian
calendar while the Western Church employs the
Gregorian calendar which creates about 13 days
difference between the two. The Eastern Church
calculates it from March 21 by their calendar,
which lies April 3 by the Gregorian calendar.
Moreover, whereas Western Churches hold Easter
sunrise services, in Russian Orthodox Church
Easter services last all through Saturday night.
The congregation gathers in the church or
cathedral on Saturday evening and takes part in
an Easter vigil commemorating the buried Christ.
Orthodox churches in Russia have an inner
sanctuary away from the reach of worshipers, and
only to the access of the priest. On this day,
the door is closed till midnight but at the
stroke of midnight, the priest opens the door and
comes out saying "Christ is risen! Christ is
risen! Christ is risen!" and after hours of
silent anticipation, the worshippers rely back He
is risen indeed!" 
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Easter in Bulgaria Congregation At midnight on
the Saturday before Easter Sunday, people in
Bulgaria gather at church, with red painted eggs
and bread. The priest proclaims three times
"Christos Voskrese" (Christ has risen) and the
congregation replies "Vo istina voskrese" (Indeed
he has risen). One of the Easter breads is
specially decorated with one or more (but an odd
number) of red eggs. After a special sequence of
services, the clergy blesses the breads and eggs
brought by the people.
Good Luck CrackThe Bulgarian 'good luck crack'
is a unique Easter tradition in Bulgaria. Eggs
are cracked after the midnight service and over
the next few days, during the festive season of
Easter. On Easter, the eggs are cracked before
lunch. The egg that is cracked on the wall of the
church is the first egg that people eat after the
long fast of Lent. People take turns in tapping
their eggs against the eggs of others, and the
person who ends up with the last unbroken egg is
believed to have a year of good luck. He/she is
considered as the most successful, healthy and
happy person for the rest of the year. 
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Easter in Poland Easter is one of the major
Christian festivals celebrated in order to
commemorate the holy resurrection of Jesus Christ
after his crucifixion. This festival is
celebrated as the holy day of hope and
auspiciousness in all the countries where the
people of Christian community reside. This
festival is generally marked with extensive
church service and festivities. Though the
celebration of Easter is more or less the same in
every country, a little difference can be
observed in regional practices and traditions.
Like the other central-European nations, Easter
is a prominent festival in Poland also. The rich
cultural heritage of Poland is reflected in the
Eastertide celebrations. While religious
ceremonies follow the rituals of the Christian
church, Easter celebrations have imbibed
elements of native Polish culture. There are
several such traditions that seem to be the
confluence of the polish and Christian culture.
Therefore apart from some regular Easter
rituals, there are certain Polish rituals
whichmake Easter celebrations, a little
different in the country. 
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Thanks for your Attention!