This year, Orthodox Christians and Catholics celebrate Easter together – all of Europe celebrates Resurrection on April 20.
Here are various Easter traditions from the Old Continent, bTV reminds.
The Hungarians are distinguished by the so-called “sprinkling“ on Holy Monday, in which bachelors spray perfumes and pour buckets of water on the heads of maidens, asking them for a kiss. This is done for fertility and abundance. It is believed that water brings purification and rebirth.
The French also prepare a giant omelet of 4,500 eggs, which feeds 1,000 people in the square. The story goes that when Napoleon and his army were passing through the south of France, they stopped in the small town to eat an omelet. Napoleon liked it so much that he ordered all the citizens to collect their eggs and make omelets for his entire army the next day.
On the island of Corfu, it is a tradition to throw clay objects from the balcony. These are mostly vases or pots, some also throw pots and pans, but the dishes are mostly made of clay so that they can be broken into pieces on the street. It is believed that this welcomes the new energy of spring. There are claims that this tradition comes from the Venetians, who for the New Year throw away all the old objects from their homes.
The Florentines decorate a huge wagon pulled by white oxen until it reaches the cathedral. Then the archbishop places a huge rocket in the shape of a dove in the wagon and then fireworks are set off. A light show called the Scoppio del Carro, literally translated as – “explosion in the cart“, begins. The spectacle is followed by a parade in costumes.
While in many countries the eggs are hidden and the children have to find them, in Germany the Easter eggs are hung on the trees so that they can be seen by everyone. During Easter we can see multi-colored trees all over the country.