In many nations around the world, Easter is a holiday of celebration and union. In the United States, families gather together to decorate Easter eggs and celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. However, around the world, not everyone eats Cadbury Eggs and parades through the streets. Below are 5 of the most unique Easter week traditions around the globe.

1. Finland

Easter in Finland tends to resemble the American holiday Halloween because children of all ages dress up like witches with their faces painted to beg for chocolate eggs from their neighbors. You are probably thinking to yourself, why witches? Well, in Western Finland they believe that swarms of witches flew around on brooms between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

2. Poland

Polish boys representing the old polish tradition by drenching girls with water on Easter Monday. Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

All throughout the country of Poland, boys fill buckets and water guns with water to mimic the Baptism of Polish Prince Mieszko on Easter Monday. These boys dump buckets on anyone they can find, and if a girl gets soaked, legend says she will get married within a year of being drenched.

3. Indonesia

Catholic Men in Indonesia imitate the death and passion of Christ’s death. Photo courtesy of zimbio.com

Indonesia is one of the most densely Catholic countries in Asia. To commemorate the death of Christ, chosen men tie themselves to crosses and stay there for the duration of Easter Sunday. It is an honor to be selected for this deed and young men do not take this responsibility lightly because many stay through the night.               

4. Bulgaria

This Balkan country puts a fun twist on modern day Easter egg hunts. Instead of searching for the eggs, Bulgarians go into the streets and have egg fights with one another. Whichever family member remains with an unbroken egg is considered to be the chosen one of that family for the upcoming year.

5. Australia

Australian children around the world are paid a friendly visit from their equivalent to the Easter Bunny: the Easter Bilby. You might be thinking to yourself, why don’t they celebrate Easter with the Easter Bunny, like the majority of the world? Well, in Australia, rabbits are considered pests because they destroy the land by chewing the grass and soil vital for farming. In 1991, an anti-Easter Bunny organization replaced the bunny with the bilby. Bilbies are bunny-like endangered animals who resemble mice. They are tiny and do not destroy the land, like rabbits. The Easter Bilby delivers chocolate and money to girls and boys whose behavior warrants it.

By: Julia Marotti’21 Staff Writer