Easter is celebrated in diverse and unique ways across the globe. While some traditions involve egg hunts and chocolate treats, others are deeply rooted in centuries-old customs and religious practices. Let’s take a journey around the world and explore some of the most interesting Easter traditions that are still observed today.
As a note, I love discovering traditions from all over the world and, if you are like me, I am inviting you to read also:
I am convinced you will love these articles too.
But now let’s get back to the topic of this material: interesting Easter customs 🙂 Let’s see how is Easter celebrated worldwide!
Photo source: Pexels
Fascinating Easter Traditions and Customs from Around the World
You will see below fascinating international Easter traditions. I admit that I was pleasantly surprised to learn about some of them – while others were familiar.
Finland – Vitsa, Easter Witches, and Rairuoho (Easter Grass)
ID 52238457 | Finland Easter © Alexander Shalamov | Dreamstime.com
In Finland, Easter has a touch of Halloween! Children dress up as witches, donning colorful clothing and painted faces, and go door-to-door exchanging willow twigs for sweets and coins.
This custom, rooted in old folklore, is meant to ward off evil spirits and bring blessings to households.
Another fun tradition is to plant rairuoho (Easter grass) in spring – wheat, rye, or grass seeds in shallow dishes lined with tissue paper or cotton wool. The seeds quickly sprout into bright green shoots that symbolize spring’s renewal and fertility. (1)
Bermuda – Flying Easter Kites
In Bermuda, Easter is celebrated with a stunning kite-flying tradition. I find this to be one of the most interesting Easter traditions worldwide!
Locals craft beautiful, vibrant kites (geometric forms) and fly them on Good Friday, symbolizing Christ’s ascension. This tradition brings families and communities together for a joyful day at the beach or open fields. (2)
Greece – The Rocket War of Chios
One of the most thrilling Easter traditions takes place on the Greek island of Chios in the village of Vrontados.
Here, two rival churches engage in a “rocket war” (Rouketopolemos) on the night of Holy Saturday. I admit I did not see this coming. I wasn’t expecting such a war bewtween churches to exist. It is an interesting Easter tradition for sure! Thousands of homemade rockets are fired between the two churches in a spectacular display, aiming to hit the…