As winter comes to an end and spring emerges, we celebrate a prominent festival “Easter”. It celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his Crucifixion. Easter is a “movable feast" because the date of this festival changes from year to year. According to the Gregorian calendar, Easter is always observed on Sundays between March 22 and April 25. Therefore, it is also known as Easter Sunday.
Easter is celebrated in various ways around the world with numerous traditions and customs. There are many games and ideas which are played during Easter. One of the most popular games is Easter Egg Hunt. Egg hunt is a game similar to the treasure hunt played throughout Easter. First, the children will hide the decorated eggs or Easter eggs. Then the children will try to collect the eggs in the basket and later when the hunt will end, prizes will be distributed on the basis of largest number of eggs, smallest egg or largest egg and the most eggs of a specific color. Consolation and booby prizes will also be distributed according to the characteristics of the egg.
Me, my brother and cousin sister used to play this in India, where our parents used to hide the eggs, and we had to find them. Though we didn't get prizes like the actual game, yet playing this game is more entertainment and refreshment than the rewards. My birthday sometimes falls on Easter. After I was born, Easter has coincided with my birthday twice. Every year on Easter, in our church, a prayer service is conducted in the early morning at 4:30 a.m. When we arrive at the church, the roads are illuminated with streetlights, creating an atmosphere that feels like night.
Additionally, many Christians take Lent. Lent means a period of fasting, repentance and praying till Easter sunday. Lent is also known as Ash Wednesday which depicts the Jesus’s fasting in the wilderness for 40 days. We end the lent by eating non-vegetable foods such as appam, chicken, biriyani, etc.
In Italy, one of the most prominent Italian Easter celebrations and traditions is “Scoppio del Carro” which means “Explosion of the Cart”.
This tradition takes place in Florence where a cart filled with fireworks is lit on Easter Sunday, which denotes good harvest and luck for the coming years. In Italy, during Easter, you will find various delicious Easter dishes such as “Colomba di Pasqua” and “Uova di Pasqua”.
In Australia, one of the most popular Australian Easter traditions is the Easter Bilby. Easter Bilby is an alternative to the Easter Bunny. Same like in Russia one of the most iconic Russian Easter traditions is the "Paskha," a rich, sweet bread made with eggs, butter, and sugar, often shaped like a pyramid or a church.
In Brazil, Easter is called "Páscoa” which is celebrated with a vibrant mix of traditional and cultural festivities. Another important tradition in Brazil is the "Folar de Páscoa," which is a sweet bread or cake that is often decorated with eggs and given as a gift during Easter to many people. Many families prepare special dishes for Easter, such as "bacalhau" (salted codfish), "coxinha" (chicken croquettes), and "brigadeiro" (chocolate truffles).
Easter is one of my favorite festivals and an enjoyable experience for the whole family. Easter is a holiday celebrated around the world with a vibrant variety of traditions and customs. Easter is a holiday that is cherished by millions of people around the world. As we celebrate Easter and wait for the arrival of spring, it is a time for people to come together, celebrate, and reflect on the meaning of the holiday.
Happy Easter!!!!!!!!!!