Happy Easter from BikeHike Adventures

This weekend is Easter, a holiday of delicious feasts, festivals, and lots and chocolate. The Easter holiday is associated with birth, renewal, and fertility. The event marks the resurrection of Jesus three days after his crucifixion. For most of us, Easter brings a four day weekend away from the office, big family dinners, and enough chocolate to last a week. Easter is a celebrated differently from one country to the next. With that in mind, here are a few different ways Easter is celebrated around the world.

England

Easter celebrations in England are similar to North America. Local communities hold Easter bonnet contests where the winner receives a Easter egg. Hot-cross buns are a popular food item on Good Friday. These delicious treats are decorated with a cross on top. Much like North America, the Easter bunny is a big part of Easter celebrations in England.

Poland

Easter traditions in Poland are just as elaborate as Christmas. Easter festivities are planned out months in advance with events being held all week long. One of Poland's Easter monday celebrations is "Smingus-Dyngus" - a custom of pouring water on one another.

Latin America

Better Known as "Samana Santa" and "Lunes de Pascua", Easter is the most important Catholic religious festival in South America.  Each day is celebrated with processions through the streets. Processions involve robed men carrying huge sculptures depicting the virgin, Christ and other religious icons. These processions can last for hours finishing in the early morning hours.

France

 

Easter in France holds a lot of celebratory festivities. Instead of the traditional Easter bunny, the traditional symbols of Easter in France are bells and fish. The French Easter fish is called "Poisson d'Avril" or "April Fish". One of France's Easter traditions is a contest of rolling eggs down a gentle slope with the surviving egg being the winner.

Regardless of the different ways Easter is celebrated around the world, the one thing we all have in common is the enthusiasm and excitement that goes into celebrating this religious holiday.  On behalf of BikeHike Adventures, we wish you a happy Easter and a great long weekend.

Happy Easter!

BikeHike Adventures.