From Spanking Women to Reading Crime Novels, These are Some Weird Traditions of Easter Celebrations Around the World
These are some of the weird traditions which are followed around the world on the eve of Easter.
The Christian festival of Easter which represents the resurrection of Jesus from the dead will be celebrated on April 1. The week before the Easter is called as the Holy Week. Christians worldwide celebrate the day with special church services and a good feast. There are processions held marking the day in several parts of the world. The day is also observed as the greatest feast of the Church year so it is a day of joy, happiness and coming together like most of the festivals. But around the world, although the feelings are common, the traditions differ. The most common tradition remains of decorating eggs and organising egg hunts around the neighbourhood. But that is not all, in some countries there are celebrations that may even look strange to some. Let us look at how this day is celebrated around the world
Children dressing up as witches in Sweden: In Sweden, the Easter celebrations are much in sync like the day of Halloween. Here small children dress up as witches, paint their faces, carry brooms and go on neighbours doors for treats and receive sweets.
Reading or watching crime in Norway: It is popular for Norwegians to read crime novels that actually have a theme of Easter. Publishers come out with special ‘Easter thrillers’ known as Paaskekrimmen. The tradition started back in 1923 when a publisher promoted a crime novel in newspapers.
Throwing pots in Greece: The tradition of pot throwing takes place on Saturday. People throw away their pots, pans and other earthenware out of their windows, smashing it on the streets. It is said as a custom of welcoming the spring season and the new plants will be gathered in new pots.
Watch the video of pot throwing in Greece:
Lighting a cart with fireworks in Italy: The Easter procession in Italy is called Scoppio del Carro which literally means an explosion of the cart. A huge decorated wagon is carried from the streets which are loaded with fireworks. It is a 350-year-old tradition carried out by locals. The cart is decorated and people wear 15th-century costumes and walk it till the Archbishop of Florence, then a fuse lights up as the Easter mass is going on. It leads into the cart and everyone can experience the beautiful firework display.
Watch the video of lighting fireworks in Italy:
Making a Giant Omelette: In the main-town of Haux, a giant omelette is made with 4,500 eggs that can feed upto 1,000 people. The story behind the tradition is Napolean and his army were travelling through the South of France and they stopped in small town and ate omelettes. Napoleon liked it so much that he ordered all town people to gather their eggs and make an omelette for his army on the next day. People have been continuing this tradition for over 30 years.
Spanking women in the Czech Republic: There’s a tradition of men spanking women with handmade whips made of willow and decorated with ribbons. The legend behind the tradition goes that willow is the first tree to bloom during the spring, so the branches are supposed to transfer tree’s vitality and fertility to women. But this is a playful tradition carried out in fun and not meant to cause any pain.
Watch the video of the spanking women tradition:
These are some of the weird traditions which are followed around the world on the eve of Easter. Do you know of any such festive celebrations that we might have missed on? Do let us know in the comments section.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 25, 2018 11:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).