Easter Sunday is an important holiday for Roman Catholics.
Filipinos go all out during Lenten season. This is evident in our practices of fasting and abstinence to watching the Sinakulo, a dramatic presentation of the Passion of Jesus Christ.
There are a few things, such as the Easter eggs and bunnies that are common to Easter celebrations. While initially not part of the Easter celebrations, bunnies and eggs are now included in the Easter Sunday activities of many Filipinos.
All over the world, different countries celebrate Easter.
Read on to know some of them:
France. Instead of the Easter Bunny, France has church bells. According to Catholic teachings, church bells do not ring between Good Friday to Easter Sunday morning. The old idea – the one which fascinates many French children – is that the bells came back from the Vatican City to deliver eggs and gifts to children on Easter morning.
Another Easter tradition practiced in France, particularly in the town of Bessières, is cooking up a giant omelet fit for an army in the town square. Its origins are said to date back when Napoleon Bonaparte and his men stayed overnight. Napoleon had enjoyed the omelet so much that he asked the locals to cook a bigger version for his army.
Venezuela. Although Easter is a celebration in most parts of the world, traditions can get unconventional in some countries. Several Latin American countries, including Venezuela, celebrate Easter Sunday by making an effigy of Judas, the apostle known for betraying Jesus. Judas’ effigy is burned using fireworks.
Czech Republic. In this European country, Easter traditions include men spanking women with handmade whips made of willows decorated with colorful ribbons. The willow is believed to be the first tree to bloom in the spring and its branches are supposed to transfer the tree’s vitality and fertility to the women. This is all done for the sake of fun, and not to cause pain.
Sweden and Finland. Nordic countries like Sweden and Finland celebrate Easter like how North Americans celebrate Halloween. Children dress up as Easter witches and go from one door to another, asking for chocolates and candies. While some kids trade paintings and crafts for candy, others cast ‘spells’ to clear homes of evil spirits. In some parts of Western Finland, people burn bonfires on Easter Sunday, which is a custom that is believed to fend off witches who fly around on brooms between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Germany. While most countries celebrate Easter in a totally different way, other countries put their own little twist to a conventional Easter celebration. Instead of hiding eggs and having children hunt for them, Germans hang Easter eggs on trees.
Australia. In Australia, rabbits are considered as pests, so they have replaced the Easter Bunny with an Easter Bilby in 1991. A bilby is a marsupial resembling a rabbit but is a rabbit-eared bandicoot, a small-sized marsupial native to Australia.
Dolpo is back for an amazing race and he needs your help to find the seven pearls of Bluewater Maribago.
Packed with fun activities and adventures, celebrate a unique kind easter at Bluewater Maribago. Look out for pearls and eggs, test your wits and complete challenges to win exciting prizes when you join Bluewater Maribago’s “Amazing Race” happening this April 21, 2019.
Bring your game face on and book this even by calling 09988424509 to join an egg-spectacular easter Sunday at Bluewater Maribago.
ADVT