Easter is a special time of the year and one with many traditions that families often enjoy, such as egg painting and Easter egg hunts along with any personal family traditions, but what about other parts of the world? There are many interesting traditions for Easter from all over the globe, so read on to learn a few new traditions and how people celebrate in different cultures.
Norway – Påskekrin
Many people thought that choosing dark and white chocolate eggs was one of the hardest decisions about Easter, but what about solving murders like they do in Norway? During Easter, it is tradition in Norway for people to read or watch stories about crime which is known as Påskekrin. We know that Norway has a long history with superb crime drama and the tradition dates back to Easter 1923 and the best-selling crime novel Bergen Train Looted in the Night where the huge advertising campaign led many to believe that the story was true.
Mexico – Via Crucis
In Mexico, there are a number of Easter traditions largely linked to religion. The most notable of which is Via Crucis (Way of the Cross), which involves an actor portraying Christ who bears a cross down a street and is often part of a Passion Play, which is a dramatic representation of the crucifixion of Christ. The biggest passion play is in Mexico City and has included as many as 4,000 locals as actors.
Germany – Osterhase
Many people wonder what the Easter Bunny has to do with Easter and it actually originated in Germany as Osterhase (Easter Hare), who was a folklore figure that would bring eggs and determine whether or not children had behaved at the start of Eastertide. One tradition which is still celebrated in Germany is Ostereierbaum (Easter egg Tree) where trees and bushes are decorated with colorful Easter eggs (similar to a Christmas tree). The egg has signficance at this time of the year as it is seen as a sign of life in cultures all over the world, which of course has religious connotations at this time of the year as well as seasonal.
These are just a few of the interesting traditions that are seen around the world at this time of year but there are many others too that are worth researching. It is fascinating to see how this time of the year is celebrated in different cultures and you could even embrace these cultures by making them a part of your holiday.
