 Among millions of Christians world-wide, Easter has the common elements of the Christian core belief that Jesus died a crucified death on "God's Friday" or Good Friday, then triumphed over mortal death by rising to immortal life 3 days later on Easter Sunday. This miracle is celebrated through spring festival feasts, egg coloring and so forth. As with any culture, each has it's unique ethnic custom to add to the celebration. Below are listed some of the most unusual festivities:
l. Australia--Children are visited by the Easter Bilby, a small rodent with a long nose and rabbit-like ears. Rabbits have so over-run the agricultural crops in the country that in 1991, the Anti-Rabbit Research Foundation replaced the Easter Bunny with the endangered native species, the chocolate egg treating Easter Bilby.
2. Bulgaria, Russia and Switzerland--have particular egg cracking ceremonies and games. In Bulgaria, the first egg to crack on the wall of a church following midnight Easter services officially ends the Lenten fast. On Easter before lunch and in the next few days, people tap their eggs against each other. The person who ends up with an unbroken egg has success, happiness, wealth and good luck for the whole year. In Russia, (as well as in Greece, Hungary and Poland), Easter eggs are dyed red to symbolize the blood of Christ. Russian eggs are cracked open with nails symbolizing Christ's crucifixion. In Switzerland, Easter Monday is called "Zwangerle". Children challenge adults to break their Easter eggs with a 20 cent coin. If the adult fails to break the child's egg, the child keeps the coin. If the adult successfully breaks the child's egg, the adult gets the coin. Bulgaria also customarily sends a basket of 10-15 eggs and a loaf Easter bread to their Turkish neighbors as a token of friendship and goodwill.
2. Canada--serves a egg mixture combined with a grade of maple syrup. In 1975, The World's largest Easter egg or Urkranian Pysanka was constructed to commemorate early Urkranian settlements outside of Edmonton, Province capital of Alberta. The Pysanka is a huge jigsaw puzzle consisting of 254 star patterns and 2,206 equilateral triangles.
3. The Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland--In The Czech Republic, it's called "Whipping Monday" and in Poland, it's known as "Dyngus or Smigus, Switching Day." Held on the first Monday of Easter, young Czech boys braid pussy willow branches, a pomlazaka, and playfully whip young girls on the legs without really hurting them. This rite is thought to bring youth and health. During the so called, "whipping", the boys recite an Easter carol and asks for an Easter egg or two. The girl rewards the boy with a painted egg or candy and ties a ribbon around the pomlazaka. In Hungary, it's called "Ducking Monday." Thought to be a purification rite, young Hungarian boys would spour water over young girl's heads. Nowadays, the boys sprinkle the girls with perfume or perfumed water, then ask for a kiss or a red egg. In Poland, the Easter Monday is known as Dyngus, Smigus or "Switching Day." The boys sprinkle the girls with water followed by a playful switching of the willow branch.
4. Denmark--On Easter, people write Gaekkebreve, teaser letters. The letters are short poems or rhymes sent by an anonymous author to a person of their choice. The letters are signed with dots corresponding to the number of letters in the person's name. Sometimes the letters are decorated with the first flower of the year, the snowdrop. Within a certain amount of time, the receiver tries to guess the sender's identity. Failure to do so, has the letter sender revealing his or her identity and the receiver sends the letter writer an Easter egg. Detective serial TV shows are aired and detective novels are also commonly read on Easter.
5. Germany--German citizens ceremoniously burn their Christmas trees on Easter.
6. Italy--In Florence, the Scoppio del Carro, (explosion of the cart) is a 300 year old Easter ritual. Built in 1679 and pulled by white oxen decorated in colorful garlands, the 2-3 story high cart is paraded through the streets of the city.
For further reading about more countries, visit iloveindia.com
Catherine
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