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 Easter Gift Baskets |
| Easter Traditions Around The World- (Back to Easter Info)
In the United States & Canada, we celebrate Easter with sunrise services, bunnies, eggs, and baskets. Few people know the interesting Easter customs of other lands and times. For example, we owe the tradition of wearing new clothes on Easter to first-century Christians. Then, baptisms generally took place once a year and people dressed in new white gowns for the occasion. Those who had already been baptized wore new clothes to indicate that inwardly they had risen to a new life in Christ. A special Easter communion was preceded by a time of soul-searching, repentance, and mending of quarrels. From this we derive the idea of Lent. Today in the British Isles, Easter is observed much as it is in the United States. In the past, however, customs were quite different. In Suffolk, 12 old women were chosen to play ball on Easter Monday-no one seems to know why. Another old custom called "lifting" occurred on the two days following Easter. On Easter Monday, men lifted their wives and women friends in chairs covered with white fabric and decorated with colorful ribbons. The following day, the ladies lifted the gentlemen in the same way. The custom was said to be a memorial of Christ being raised from the grave. In olden days, the king or queen customarily washed the feet of the poor on the Thursday before Easter. The regent washed the feet of as many people as his or her age. The Welsh customarily decorated the graves of family members and friends on Easter Saturday. Decked with flowers, the graveyard became a reminder of the promise that, because of Christ's resurrection, Christians also will one day be raised from the dead. The church bells hand silent from Good Friday until Easter morning. The legend is that the bells do not ring because they go to Rome and come back bringing gifts. When the bells ring on Easter, the children go outside to collect Easter eggs and candy that have "fallen from the sky." Following church on Easter Sunday, people dressed in their best throng the streets, exchanging greetings. "Heureuses Paques (Happy Easter)!" Occasionally, one may hear the strange greeting "Happy New Year!" This is an ancient carry over from the time when Easter sometimes feel on the same day as the beginning of a new year. Some Germans think it is good luck to eat green food on Thursday before Easter. At one time, some even believed that if they didn't eat a green salad, they would turn into donkeys. We get our tradition of the Easter bunny who hides eggs from the Germans. A traditional children's game played on the Saturday night before Easter calls for rolling eggs on tracks made of sticks. On Easter night, huge festival fires are lit on the hilltops. In Italy, a visitor to the house never refuses the Easter eggs that have been blessed by the priest for this event. Usually the eggs are placed in the middle of a sweet bread that has been shaped into a chick, bunny, or doll. Making these special breads is a favorite family activity. On Holy Saturday in Florence, two white oxen may be seen on the streets, drawing a cart filled with flowers and fireworks-a custom that dates back to the crusades. The cart finally stops by the door of the great cathedral, where wires are strung from it to the altar inside the church. When it touches the cart, fireworks are ignited. Immediately, the firebird dashes back to the church. If it times its return to the altar to beat the explosion of the cart, all is well. Superstitious people watch intensely, for they believe if the trip isn't timed just right the crops will suffer the following year. Eastern Europe The practice of coloring and decorating eggs dates back to the Middle Ages in many countries. In Poland especially, decorating eggs became an art form. Hungarians adorned their eggs with red flowers to symbolize the blood of Jesus. Egg decorators in Yugoslavia used the letters XV, which stood for christos valkrese of "Christ is risen." The Polish also take their Easter foods to the priest on Saturday for a blessing. They arrange food on green leaves in a large basket. Could this be the source of our American custom of Easter baskets? Russians celebrate Shrovetide (the week before Easter) with pancakes called blini, which is where we got our dish called blintz. It is customary to bring budding branches from flowering trees into the house. In the warmth of the home, the buds burst open just in time for Easter. Sometimes the branches are made into Easter trees and hung with colored eggs or feathers. On the night before Easter, children go around in costumes delivering holiday letters and cards. They also set off fireworks. People carry lighted candles at midnight services Easter Eve. The worshippers leave the church with their candles lit. Many believe it is good luck to keep them burning until they reach home. On Easter Day, a special bread is eaten. It is called the Bread of Christ. A Greek cross representing the Crucifixion is always marked on its top crust and the bread loaf is decorated with Easter eggs. On Easter Monday, traditional folk dances are performed. South America The Lent of Easter is preceded by a great frolic known as Carnival. This takes place on Shrove Tuesday and is celebrated with parades, band music, dancing, and hilarity. Once Lent has begun, however, all the church traditions are devoutly kept, especially during Passion Week. On Palm Sunday, known there as Flower Sunday, people place the palm branches they have brought home from church behind their doors. They believe this assures the household of good luck and peace throughout the coming year. On Holy Thursday, a Last Supper is re-enacted in the church. On Good Friday at 3 p.m., the priest removes the image of Christ from the cross. It is placed solemnly in the sepulcher and is visited by worshipers the rest of the day and evening. In South America, Easter Sunday is the most important religious day of the year. |
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