7 Paschal Traditions You Probably Don't Know
When we think of Easter-related customs, the most common memories are probably chocolate eggs, family reunions, and religious celebrations. But aside from enjoying the holiday, have you ever thought of celebrating this important date on the Christian calendar by throwing buckets of water at people, hunting witches or launching rockets? Check out these and other weird “pascoalina” traditions:
1 - Egg War in Mexico
A curious tradition in Mexico called Cascarones is to make wars with confetti-stuffed eggs. To prepare the "ammunition", first make a small opening in the shell carefully, empty the contents completely and fill the empty eggs with colored rolls.
Sometimes eggs are also stuffed with small toys or sweets for children, and Mexicans believe that wearing a cascarón on the head can bring good luck.
2 - Swedish witch hunt
In Sweden, every year on April 30th is celebrated a festival similar to Halloween called Walpurgis . During this celebration, Swedes light large bonfires to scare away evil spirits, and children dress up as witches and go around the neighborhood to ask for treats or tricks.
And because Easter usually happens very close to this holiday, it has become a custom for children to go out on the streets and go from house to house to collect the little Easter eggs, all dressed up as little monsters.
3 - Butter sculpture from Poland
Known by the name Baranek Wielkanocny, the above lamb is traditionally served as a complement during Easter lunch in Poland, being made entirely of butter. The lazy ones usually buy the lamb ready, but the tradition is to carve the butter at home, by hand. In addition, the custom is to start the lamb by the tail and end by the head.
4 - Greeks in crossfire
In the village of Vrontados, located on the island of Chios, Greece, two Orthodox churches face each year at Easter with a veritable bombardment of fireworks. The custom arose about a century ago, and the inhabitants themselves produce the thousands of rockets and rockets that are fired between the two congregations. The custom has become quite famous and crowds of tourists visit the region each year to watch the show.
5 - Egg Hunt at the White House
A tradition that has been going on for more than a century at the White House is a game in which hundreds of children search for boiled eggs that are hidden by the lawn of one of the gardens. At the end of the adventure, in addition to the items found on the lawn, all the children earn collectible eggs with autographs from the US president and first lady, who also participate in the hunt.
6 - Easter Whipping
In the Czech Republic, a curious tradition works like this: boys make a kind of braided whip called Pomlázka, with which they hit wives or girlfriends to impart good luck, health and happiness to them. However, the custom eventually spread and, in addition to women, other loved ones and even pets also became the target of whipping.
7 - Bucket of cold water
As is the case in the Czech Republic, in Hungary it is also the girls who are the worst at Easter celebrations. There, the tradition - known as Smingus-Dyngus - is throwing buckets of water at the ladies, who produce and dress especially for the occasion with beautiful typical costumes.
More curiosities:
- In Switzerland, instead of the Easter Bunny, who gives children chocolates is a cuckoo, like those of watches;
- In Australia, as in Switzerland, it is not the rabbit, but a little marsupial named Bilby, who makes the children happy. There, rabbits - not a native species of the country - are not very dear;
- Another country where the bunny doesn't deliver Easter eggs is in Sweden. The people responsible for Easter deliveries in the Nordic country are roosters;
- For Czech children, who takes the Easter tidbits is a lark;
- Already the German kids have a variety of options: besides the bunny, there is a fox, a stork and an Easter rooster.
* Posted on 25/03/2013
***
Did you know that Curious Mega is also on Instagram? Click here to follow us and stay on top of exclusive curiosities!
Recommended
