12 Easter facts that will blow your mind
Here are some fun and interesting Easter facts Traditions Around the World
- The world’s largest chocolate Easter egg was made in Italy in 2011 and weighed 7,200 kg.
- In the US, only about one-quarter of the 50 states recognise Good Friday as a holiday.
- Easter is thought to have been named after the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre, who was connected to springtime and fertility.
- On Easter Monday, men in the Czech Republic throw buckets of cold water over women they find attractive.
- In Norway, a popular Easter tradition is to read crime novels over Easter.
- Easter sales make up 10% of the UK’s annual chocolate spending.
- The pretzel’s shape is thought to originate from 7th century Italian monks, who would reward good students with baked dough twisted in the shape of crossed arms (the traditional posture for prayer at that time).
- When eating chocolate bunnies, 59% of people prefer to eat the ears first.
- In Hungary, women dress up in traditional clothes on Easter Sunday and get splashed with water.
- On Easter Sunday thousands of people go to the Vatican City to see the Pope
- In Sweden children dress up as Easter Witches on Easter Sunday
- Easter Sunday is on a different date every year.
Easter facts – Scotland – Egg Rolling
On Easter Sunday, many Scottish families participate in an egg rolling contest. After they’re boiled and painted, the decorated eggs are taken to the park where they are rolled down a hill. The person whose egg rolls the farthest distance without breaking is the winner of the contest.
Easter facts – Germany – Egg Dance
On Easter, like in many countries, German children receive a basket filled with eggs and chocolates that has been hidden in the garden. But there is one Easter tradition in Germany that dates back to Medieval times. The egg dance game is played by setting eggs on the ground and dancing around them. The object of the game is to damage as few of the eggs as possible.
In some instances to make the game more challenging the dancers are actually blindfolded. Another popular German custom is the Osterbaum or the traditional Easter Tree. A large tree or bush is decorated with eggs that have been painted to look like fruits. The decorated eggs symbolize the end of winter and the return of warmer weather.
Easter facts – Greece – Egg Tapping
Although the Greek Orthodox Easter is not always celebrated on the same day as the Roman Catholic Easter, some years both are on the same day. In Greece, Easter is considered the most sacred holiday of the year and is marked by many traditions. One of these is the tapping dyed Easter eggs together, a game called tsougrisma that is believed to bring good luck.
On Easter Sunday, a time known for big family gatherings and feasting, each person takes a dyed boiled egg (usually coloured red) and taps the pointed end of their egg with that of the person sitting next to them. This continues until there is a winner i.e. the last person left with an egg that is still intact. The winner’s prize is good luck!
Easter facts – Sweden – Egg Roof Tile Rolling
Easter Saturday in Sweden begins with children dressing up as good witches and giving out cards in return for eggs and sweets. Decorated eggs are typically exchanged among family members and friends. Later, the eggs are used in a game where they are rolled down roof tiles held up at an angle on the floor. The object of the game is to see which egg goes the farthest. If someone’s egg gets hit by another person’s, the latter gets to keep both. Small twigs and branches of willow or birch are also a common sight in Swedish homes during the Easter holidays. Feathers and small decorations are placed on these twigs and displayed in a vase. This tradition is believed to go as far back as the 16th century in Sweden.
Easter facts – Argentina – Big Chocolate Egg
On Easter Sunday in Argentina, people exchange eggs. They also eat a special Easter cake decorated with, you guessed it, eggs. Argentinians traditionally end the day with a big family feast. Children will then go hunting for the large, hollow chocolate egg, or huevo de Pascua, that their parents have hidden for them.
Most Argentinian families celebrate with an asado, or a feast of grilled meats typically including lamb and many savory dishes. Along with Easter cake, desert often consists of breaking into a big chocolate egg. As you can see, these chocolate eggs are big!
Easter facts – Mexico – Egg Showers
In Mexico, one custom dictates that hollowed out eggs filled with confetti, called cascarones, are broken over a chosen person’s head. This colourful shower of confetti is said to bring good luck. Families go to the park to celebrate on Easter Sunday, and the children usually hide their cascarones and wait for an unsuspecting friend to sneak up on and break an egg over their head!
This Easter tradition was first introduced to Mexico by the Spaniards. During Marco Polo’s visit to China, he observed the filling of hollow eggs with perfumed powder and brought the custom back to Europe. Cascarones can also be traced back to the Italian Renaissance, when men tossed hollowed eggs filled with perfumed powder at the women they were courting.
Easter facts – United States – Easter Egg Hunt
In the United States, Easter is dominated by candy, chocolates and the Easter Bunny. One popular American tradition is the Easter egg hunt. Children of all ages enjoy filling their Easter baskets with chocolate eggs or exchanging the eggs they’ve found in return for various treats. Another custom is the Easter egg rolling contest.
Since 1987, the White House has hosted Easter egg rolling contests for the American public. The eggs are rolled across the South lawn using a stick rather than downhill as they are in Scotland. Previously, an estimated 30,000 people joined the first family on the White House lawn for the traditional Easter egg roll.
