A red egg brings luck! The Easter egg hunt is certainly one of the most popular traditions – what child wouldn’t love to go out and find hidden eggs? But what other Easter customs are there?
About Austria
Church bells in Austria are famously silent from Maundy Thursday to Holy Saturday because the traditional bells have been flown to Rome. Instead, children go around the villages with “ratchets“, wooden rattling instruments, and recite verses. They give out Easter eggs, sweets, and coins. In 2015, the rattle of Holy Week was recognised by UNESCO as part of Austria’s intangible cultural heritage.
About Italy
“Natale con i tuoi, pasqua con chi vuoi” – Christmas with your family, Easter with whomever you like. This is the motto for spending Easter with family and friends. The sweet end of the multi-course Easter meal is the “Colomba pasquale“. This is a yeast cake baked in the shape of a dove (a symbol of Jesus) and decorated with almonds or raisins.
About Croatia
The top of the pome forms a cross made of palm leaves. Originally, only children brought the pome to church, so that families with no children or grown-up children could give the branches to other children in the neighborhood. The reason for this: The children who brought a pome to church were very happy because they got two Easter eggs instead of just one.
About CZECH REPUBLIC
The Czech Republic has a rather bizarre Easter tradition. There, men are allowed to lightly beat young women on the legs with woven willow sticks. According to the Czech Tourist Board, the custom has a long tradition and is said to bring good health and youth.
About Slovakia
Hrudka, a bread made from eggs and milk, is baked here. The bread represents fertility and new beginnings.
About Serbia
Easter in Serbia is Orthodox Christian. Here we meet the red eggs again. Easter eggs are not dyed until Saturday and the first egg to be dyed must be red. This egg – called čuvarkuća – is even kept for a year before being thrown away. It’s said to bring good luck.
