We have already posted about a couple of holidays and how people celebrate them around the world. Now it’s Easter’s time! The first part of “Easter Traditions Around The World” brings to you interesting Easter traditions from Estonia, Scotland, and Spain.
Estonia
For Estonians, Easter is not just a church holiday, but also a celebration of the warmer weather and spring. One thing we always do during the easter time is coloring eggs. Every family member has a couple of eggs to color. There are a lot of techniques used. The most traditional one is using onion skins – it gives a great variation of colors and it’s completely natural.
Afterward, the “egg knocking” competition is held. Each person has an egg and they have to knock eggs against the competitor’s eggs. Basically, you have to break competitor’s eggshell without breaking yours. If you win, you can claim the loser’s egg.
One of the traditional Easter desserts Estonians eat is called “Pasha”. It’s a dish made of drained curd cheese and decorated with nuts and raisins.
Scotland
Scotland’s Easter traditions are a blend of entertaining and religious activities. Besides the traditional egg hunt and Easter bunny, Scots have another fun and exciting egg activity. After coloring and decorating the eggs, they roll them down the steep hills. And the winner is a person who’s egg rolls the furthest without breaking the shell. The egg rolling is said to symbolize the rolling away of the rock from Jesus’s tomb. A great family event for sure!
The traditional Scottish Easter treat is a “Hot Cross Bun“. It’s a sweet baked bun with raisins or currants and decorated with a cross on the top.
Spain
In Spain, Easter is a really religious holiday. Every Spanish town, village, and the city celebrates the Holy week. They all have their own Easter traditions, but in general the same kind of events are held all over Spain. Different religious events like masses and processions are celebrated during the Semana Santa (Holy Week) and many Catholics abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
One of the most popular Spanish Easter dish is called “torrijas”. It’s a simple but yet really delicious dessert made of bread slices soaked in milk and egg. It’s fried in olive oil and served with honey, cinnamon or syrup.
A lot of chocolate is eaten during the Easter too! A lot of shops sell different chocolate figurines starting from simple eggs to more elaborate castles or pirate boats.
I had no idea Hot Crossed Buns originated in Scotland, much less that it is an Easter Treat! Wow… Look at me learning something new today. Thank you for doing this post. I love to see how other countries celebrate holidays.
This is neat! I want to try to find a recipe for “Pasha” and see if it is something my family would actually eat. Thanks for sharing.
I love learning the holiday traditions of other cultures. It’s great to see how many traditions we actually have in common.
This is a wonderful post!! I love hearing about how people in other parts of the world celebrate different holidays. I always get so wrapped up in my own celebrations that I forget other cultures do it differently!
This is a fun post. When we were in Prague one year, they were decorating the trees outside with eggs for Easter. 🙂
It’s great seeing how others celebrate easter. I personally don’t do much but I do take the kids easter egg hunting. 🙂
That’s pretty cool. I guess I never really though of how others celebrate. I will have to remember this so I can tell my girls when they get older. Thanks!
I love learning about other cultures. Thank you for this. My favorite is the activity in Scotland. Love the symbolism!
I love reading about the traditions from other cultures. All the Easter foods sound really tasty!
I enjoy reading and learning about other cultures and traditions. will have to let son read this so he can learn to.
This is so interesting. I love how we all have our ways to celebrate the holiday
I love learning how each culture celebrants the same holiday. We celebrate Easter more as the celebration of Spring coming at our house.
I love Easter!It was one of my favorite holidays due to how my family celebrated.
It’ so interesting to learn how other countries celebrate Easter. Easter is most definitely one of my favorite holidays.
Easter is such a lovely holiday! It’s so interesting how each traditions varies from each places.
Thanks, I really enjoyed reading about how different countries celebrate Easter. I can’t say that my family has any unusual or interesting Easter traditions. We love to make it a special day and we always have a good meal and enjoy each other’s company. I have great memories of celebrating Easter growing up and they are all centered around family and church.
Nice to read how other cultures celebrate Easter. The Estonia egg knocking traditions would be something I’d love to recreate with my family.
What a neat idea for a kids activity! We will be trying this!
Very interesting. Everyone has their own way of celebrating, but one purpose. Love it.
That is so much fun. Love to see the other traditions…
Sounds like the same way how we celebrate Easter in Philippines. It’s a big occasion for every church. I love that idea of rubbing onion skins to the egg. Love the red color 🙂