EASTER IN EUROPE

Finland Easter in Finland is traditionally celebrated with easter-egg hunts for the children, and many Finns go to church on Easter Sunday. The eggs (hard-boiled, chocolate or candy eggs) are hidden in a yard or garden by parents. Then, the children are sent outside and can keep whatever Easter goodies they find.

Finnish dishes Easter lamb Oven roosted root vegetables Chicken dishes Harring Smoked salmon Karelian rice pasties.

Czech Republic Easter Eggs and kraslice The hand-painted or otherwise decorated egg (kraslice) is the most recognizable symbol of Czech Easter. Girls decorate Easter eggs to give them to boys on Easter Monday. There are many Easter egg decorating techniques and the more elaborate ones require a certain level of skill. Different materials can be used, such as bee's wax, straw, watercolors, onion peels, picture stickers. There are no limitations to creating pretty, colorful eggs. A nationwide Easter egg contest is held in Prague and other Czech cities around Easter time.

Pussy willow and pomlázka Young, live pussywillow twigs are thought to bring health and youth to anyone who is whipped with them. An Easter pomlázka (from pomladit or "make younger") is a braided whip made from pussywillow twigs. It has been used for centuries by boys who go caroling on Easter Monday and symbolically whip girls on the legs. In the past, pomlázka was also used by the farmer's wife to whip the livestock and everyone in the household, including men and children. There would be no Czech Easter without the pomlázka. Boys used to make their own pomlázkas in the past (the more twigs, the more difficult it was to braid one), but this tradition and skill is long gone and pomlázkas can be bought in stores and street stands. Some men don't even bother and use a single twig or even a wooden spoon!

Poland Poland is known all over the world for its faith in Orthodox Christianity. Hence, the country celebrates Easter in a very conventional style, mainly adhering to the traditional ways. Almost the entire populace of the country believes in orthodox Christianity, which is the reason for religious practices preceding almost all the celebrations. In Poland, Easter celebrations start with Holy Saturday, when the ‘Blessing Basket’ is prepared. In it, colorful eggs, bread, cake, salt, paper and white colored sausages are kept.

The basket is taken to the church, to have it blessed by the priest. Polish people believe that the forty days of fast, observed during the Lent period, are not over until the basket is blessed. On Palm Sunday, Polish people take palm branches and twigs, which symbolize Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, to the church. These twigs and branches are, then, blessed and used for curing sick domestic animals and blessing pregnant women.

Decorating On Easter, the entire family gathers at the breakfast table, decorated with green leaves, with a sugar lamb placed at the center. After wishing each other happiness and good luck, family members relish the Easter feast blessed by the priest. Some of the popular dishes are ‘Beet and Horseradish Relish Cwikla’, ‘Gypsy Mazure Mazurek Cyganski’, ‘Raisin Mazurek Mazurek Rodzynkami’ and ‘Mazurek Royale Mazurek Krolewski’. The day after Easter is observed as the ‘Switching Day’ in Poland, wherein boys swat their girlfriends with a small willow branch. On Easter Tuesday, the girls strike the boys back.

Germany In Germany, Easter is called by the name of Ostern. Easter holidays for children last for about three weeks. Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday are the days when people don't work at all. In Germany also there is tradition of huge bonfires on Easter Saturday evenings. These Easter fires are burnt as symbolize the end of winter and bad omen. This is very popular tradition and large numbers of people assemble to enjoy it. Then, there is the tradition of families having breakfast together on Easter Sunday. Easter baskets full with sweets, eggs and small presents are hidden and children have to find them out. Colorful Easter eggs are decorated with traditional designs and are exchanged amongst friends.

Russia In Germany, Easter is called by the name of Ostern. Easter holidays for children last for about three weeks. Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday are the days when people don't work at all. In Germany also there is tradition of huge bonfires on Easter Saturday evenings. These Easter fires are burnt as symbolize the end of winter and bad omen. This is very popular tradition and large numbers of people assemble to enjoy it. Then, there is the tradition of families having breakfast together on Easter Sunday. Easter baskets full with sweets, eggs and small presents are hidden and children have to find them out. Colorful Easter eggs are decorated with traditional designs and are exchanged amongst friends.

Italy Dominated by Christian faith, Italy celebrates Easter with great fanfare and vigor. Known as 'Pasqua' in Italian, Easter makes the entire country have fun with games and concerts. The proverb ‘Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi’ meaning ‘Christmas with your relatives, Easter with whomever you want’, perfectly suits the festive spirit of Easter in Italy. The festivity begins with Carnival activities, which form a preface to the season of Lent, which signifies grief and misery. Venice, Ivrea and Sicily are the greatest hotspots, where Easter celebration is held with splendor and magnificence. Another prominent Easter ritual in Italy is the Barano d'Ischia, the customary dance and merino and the popular horse race. Delicacies and mouth-watering dishes are not too far behind when its Easter celebration time in the country. The festival also marks a luxurious and extravagant feast, wherein all the traditional delicacies are prepared. Agnellino, or the roasted baby lamb, forms the most important dish on the occasion. Another must-have in Ital, during Easter, is eggs, found as the main component in many dishes.

Thank you for your attention! Katalin Szabó Viktória Tóth Lilla Pintér