Celebrating Easter: Traditions and Customs Around the World

Easter is a widely celebrated holiday among Christians and even non-religious people alike. In 2023, Easter will be celebrated on Sunday, April 9. Each country and culture has a different way of celebrating this holiday! Learning about how more countries around the world can be a valuable and enriching lesson, teaching yourself and others how other people celebrate the same holiday. You can enrich yourself in the culture and even try to understand the historical significance of each tradition. Even better, if you happen to travel to these countries in the future close to Easter time, you’ll know exactly what to do and how to celebrate. I chose five different countries all around the world to showcase and describe all of the different types of traditions and customs found in these areas! 

UNITED STATES

Easter is a rather commercialized holiday in the United States, so there are so many different ways people (religious and non-religious) celebrate this exciting holiday! One of the most common traditions is easter egg hunts. Children hunt around for hidden plastic eggs which might contain chocolate, little toys, or even money! These events can take place in their own backyard, but sometimes even church members or neighbors will come together to organize a large easter egg hunt for their kids in a larger park or public area. Some cities in the US also host Easter parades, featuring floats, festive music, and colorful costumes. It’s also customary to observe Good Friday, the Friday right before Easter Sunday. People obsessed on the day that Jesus was crucified on the cross by fasting and praying throughout the day. 

MEXICO

In Mexico, the Holy Week, also known as Semana Santa, is a special week that people commemorate leading up to Easter. During Holy Week, there are many festivals and processions, and some even feature re-enactments of the Passion of Christ. People also tend to go to church during the week, sometimes multiple times, and then lastly on Easter. There are more traditions in Mexico like cooking foods that are only traditionally made during this time. Some of these foods include capirotada, which is a sweet bread pudding made with sugar, cinnamon, and other delicious ingredients. People also decorate their homes and their towns with banners and flowers. Some towns even make elaborate and huge floral displays in the street called alfombras!

INDIA

Easter in India might not be what most people think about when thinking of religious celebrations in India, but there is a large Christian community in India, particularly in southern states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Goa. There are celebrations throughout all of Holy Week, from people celebrating Palm Sunday, to the washing of feet on Maundy Thursday. Many times, people traditionally go to church the night before Easter, called an Easter Vigil Mass. There are also delicious traditional foods that are typically made during this time. Some people prepare traditional curries and spicy dishes, whereas others celebrate by eating and distributing sweets or cakes with their family and friends. Similar to other countries, many Indians will also hold processions, particularly in Kerala, where many will parade with a statue of the resurrected Christ. 

POLAND

Easter, better known as Wielkanoc, is one of the most celebrated holidays in Poland. There are a variety of traditions and customs people follow to celebrate this occasion. Decorating Easter eggs is a big tradition in Poland. People tend to decorate them with intricate patterns and designs using wax and dyes and give them out to friends and family as gifts. People also prepare traditional Easter baskets on Holy Saturday (the day before Easter), including foods like loaves of bread, meats, eggs, and other traditional Polish foods. They then take these baskets to church to allow them to be blessed by the priest. The traditions don’t just stop on Easter Sunday, however. On Easter Monday, some people sprinkle water on themselves, sometimes with a water gun!

SOUTH AFRICA

In South Africa, Easter is a very significant holiday for those who live there and practice Christianity. There are typically processions, especially in the city of Cape Town on Good Friday. These processions reenact the crucifixion of Christ and the events of Good Friday. Another tradition is to cook Hot Cross Buns, a traditional Easter food in South Africa, which are often served on Good Friday, as well. These sweet buns are made with raisins or currants and are usually marked with a cross on top of it. Another way to celebrate with family and food on Easter is to host picnics on Easter Monday, a public holiday in South Africa. Since it’s the fall season in South Africa now, many people opt to go for Easter hikes and do other outdoor activities with their community to celebrate the holiday.