From the traditional Easter egg to celebratory parades, every country does it slightly differently. Learn how Easter is celebrated around Europe today.
How is Easter celebrated around Europe?
Easter in Britain is renowned for its annual traditions. But how is Easter celebrated around Europe? With a mix of culture, tradition and beliefs, it’s no wonder countries in Europe have all developed their own individual way of celebrating the holiday. From the Easter witch in Sweden to decorating Croatian Easter eggs, learn more about Easter around Europe today.
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Is Easter the same in every country?
Easter traditions vary widely from country to country in Europe. Some are more food-focused, with traditional dishes and staple foods, while others celebrate with parades and gifts.
Easter traditions around Europe
Easter in Slovenia
On Palm Sunday, Slovenians traditionally bring bundles called “butarice”, or olive branches to church for a blessing. Bundles are made from a range of shrubs, including elderflower, hazel and catkin, while the tops are often more decorative, featuring flowers like daffodils and forsythia. The plants included affect the blessing, hay for livestock or a branch of a fruit tree to help it bear fruit.
From mid-afternoon on Good Friday, a custom known as "God's frightening", or "strašnice" in Slovenian, sees some churches in Slovenia getting noisy to symbolise the earthquake that allegedly occurred when Jesus Christ died on the cross. Rattles are used and wooden objects are beaten with poles. The resulting matchwood is used the following morning to make a holy fire.
Another popular Easter custom is to decorate eggs, often using red paint to symbolise Christ’s blood. In Metlika they use another decoration method: eggs are cooked in onion skins and a knife is used to carve in intricate decorations.
A holiday in Slovenia offers plenty to see at any time of year.
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Easter in Italy
Travelling to Italy for Easter? You’ll spot the difference between British and Italian Easter traditions immediately – starting with a distinct lack of the famous Easter bunny, or participation in our much-loved Easter egg hunts. A huge holiday nationwide, Italians celebrate through joyous parades where participants often dress up in traditional ancient costumes.
Take an in-depth look at how Easter is celebrated in Italy.
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Easter in Croatia
Did you know, Croatia Easter preparations last 40 days? The preparation for this holiday lasts up until Palm Sunday, and then Holy Week celebrations begin until Easter Monday. In Croatia, decorating a Pisanica – a Croatian Easter egg – is a popular Easter activity, stemming from an old Slavic custom dating back to Pagan times. Painted in bright colours, Pisanicas would be given as gifts to celebrate the festive period. The most common phrase put on Pisanica is “Sretan Uskrs” – meaning Happy Easter. Doves, crosses, flowers and slogans wishing health and happiness are also commonly used for decoration.
Celebratory games are played on Easter Sunday which involve two people choosing eggs and holding them vertically, while one person lightly taps the other end of the egg. Whoever holds the strongest egg – whichever has not cracked – wins the game!
For anyone looking to visit without the crowds of high summer, Easter is a good time to visit Croatia. You can wander the sights before they feel the influx of tourists, while also experiencing Easter in Croatia.
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Easter in Finland
In Finland, Easter is often associated with witches! Answering the door on Palm Sunday may lead you to come face to face with young little witches offering to bless your home in return for sweets. Children, especially girls, paint freckles on their face and dress up in colourful clothes bringing willow twigs decorated with colourful feathers as blessings to drive away evil spirits.
Chocolate Easter eggs are often given to these young witches as a thanks for their blessing. Almost Halloween-esque, this traditional is popular among Croatian households.
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Easter in Iceland
Did you know, there’s a strict no-party policy on Good Friday in Iceland? Easter festivities are prohibited on Föstudagurinn Langi" or “The Long Friday” – meaning that bars, clubs and recreational gatherings close at midnight on Maundy Thursday and do not re-open until after midnight on Good Friday. The exceptions to this rule are theatre productions, concerts and cultural events. However, to protest these rules, a game of Bingo has become a tradition on Good Friday which goes against the rules of no-party policy.
And Icelandic Easter cuisine? The Easter egg is a staple tradition of Easter in Iceland – the chocolate is stuffed with Icelandic candy and a proverb can be found inside each egg, almost like Chinese fortune cookies.
Easter in Iceland is a 5-day holiday, so expect some more shop closures than usual, but restaurants and cafes generally stay open.
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Easter in Sweden
Easter food in Sweden is suitably smorgasbord-style, with tables laden with egg dishes, lamb, herring and salmon, with options for the veggies and vegans too.
Over recent years, Easter in Sweden has incorporated some more secular traditions, so many events have folkloric and Old Norse roots, as well as Christian ones. A popular event is ‘påskkärring’, which means Easter witch. Groups of children dress up as witches, with rosy cheeks, brooms and headscarves, before going door-to-door wishing a Happy Easter and exchanging drawings or letters for sweets. It’s like a jollier version of trick or treat, that occurs on Maundy Thursday or Easter Saturday.
Best Easter breaks in Europe
If you’re looking for the best place to go for Easter in Europe, you’re spoilt for choice. Rome is pleasantly warm and The Vatican’s Easter celebrations are a stunning experience.
If you’re thinking of heading to Croatia, the coastal cities – including Dubrovnik and Split – offer fantastic processions and a dose of history.
Visit Italy for Easter
Now you’re clued up on Easter traditions around Europe, why not take advantage of this long Easter weekend to discover our selection of tailor-made Italy holidays and plan your next Long Travel escape!
