We just finished celebrating Easter. I wished all the best to my friend in Brazil and she told me that they don’t celebrate anything, they just have Friday off and they exchange big chocolate eggs (each is worth ca. 70 PLN). I didn’t know about it - in primary school we usually talked about Christmas traditions so I decided to learn more about this topic and present to you Easter traditions in different cultures.
Poland
Just to make sure we have equal starting point: In Poland these are rather ‘sad’ holidays - maybe because of the Lent before - but still according to Christians, Easter is a happy holiday and we celebrate resurrection, not the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. People go with food (coloured eggs especially!) to church on Saturday to have it blessed and to eat it for Sunday breakfast.
Brazil
I learned that my friend was wrong. In Brazil on Friday (“Good Friday”) there is a tradition of “Procissão do Encontro” - women carrying an image or sculpture of Virgin of Sorrows meet the procession of men carrying an image or sculpture of Jesus Christ.
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| http://www.brumadoagora.com.br/tag/padreeutropio |
On Easter Sunday there are gala carnivals organized to celebrate the resurrection and another procession is made for which people prepare carpets from coloured sawdust:
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| https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/brazil/holy-week-ouro-preto/building-sawdust-carpets |
Mexico
Still being in Americas - how is Easter celebrated in Mexico? Because 90% of people are Catholics there are many processions on Easter Sunday, like in Brazil.
One day before, on Saturday, there is a parade, where characters constructed of paper with attached fireworks are presented. After that parade they are burnt. It reminds me of the Polish tradition of “Topienie Marzanny” (“Sinking of Marzanna”) on the first day of spring.
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| http://www.journeymexico.com/blog/easter-in-mexico-semana-santa-and-pascua |
Spain
Easter in Spain is well known for processions in robes that take place during the Holy Week.
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| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Week_in_Spain |
They seem to know that it’s different that in other countries because there are even ads prepared to invite tourists, ensuring that it won’t be boring:
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| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Week_in_Spain |
Because of Christians and Orthodox Christians in Russia there are two Easter Holidays. It might be surprising to people traveling to Russia for business reasons that office hours may be shifted or shortened on both events.
A strong tradition are Easter Eggs, giving them as gifts to your family. The most precious and famous eggs are of course Faberge eggs crafted for Tsars Alexander III and Nicholas II. Those eggs are made of gold and diamonds.
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| source: https://www.pinterest.com/syuzannaalexand/russian-easter-eggs/ |
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_customs
http://www.whyeaster.com/customs/http://www.topmarks.co.uk/easter/
Comments
Those eggs in the picture are some kind of Faberge eggs repplicas so they are not really painted like this:P
Definitely a night owl!
But getting back on topic: I don't know how it happened but I missed "Lany Poniedzialek" in my description of Easter in Poland, thanks for the reminder!
Speaking of Easter traditions - this year I discovered a popular one in the USA and I also found out that it gains more and more partisans: the search for Easter eggs. Parents/partner hide sweet eggs around the house and everybody looks for them. Some people make real art of it! They make some riddles to solve and it is like a true treasure hunt.
I don't like the tradition of "Wet Monday". It may be funny when you playfully splash some water onto another person (let's remember that back in time it was a ritual in which boys poured water on girls they liked), but people often abuse this tradition and do some mean things like sticking a water hose into somebody's car etc.
I don't like Easter because all stores are closed and I have less clients too because all of them left Warsaw, so I make less money. On the other hand I have more time to spend on fresh air and relax a little.
Because of this I've also used to prefer Christmas - I mean double Christmas :)
"Wet Monday" is nice as long as it's not abused. Seems like you've some bad memories connected with it - probably many boys did like you :)!
I can see some of the people mentioned 'lany poniedziałek' in the comments; when I was a kid, little enough to be lifted by my parents, they used to take me out of my bed in the morning and throw me into a bathtube xD
I wish Polish holidays in general were more cheerful - I have a feeling that even "positive" Christian holidays are celebrated in a reserved, subdue manner, unlike in the countries you wrote about.
A lot of Christian religious groups have reformed their beliefs, rejecting all traditions that were artificially added in the past (for example to have an easier way to talk local societies round to their side).
I know Christian people from Arabic countries who are shocked that people in Poland call themselves Christians when they are basically ignoring the Bible and go with pagan traditions, superstitious thinking etc. It's funny to hear that when people here tend to think that they are exemplary believers (unlike rest of the world)... :)
I personally like the customs connected to each holiday season. I use these as a chance to spend a nice time with loved ones, make some good food and share warm feelings. I'm not a believer, so there is no connection to any religion in my celebration.
Many of my friends with different nationalities have expressed how much they enjoy out tradition of blessing food. One year I even saw a couple of American families purposely attending polish Easter Mass. The amount of food that they brought to be blessed was quite surprising to others as it looked like the entire contents of their fridges. One family even brought a Happy Meal that they bough on their way to church.
From other traditions that you have described I really liked the Brazilian carpet preparations. They for sure must be extraordinary.
I agree with you, holidays should be happier. It is a reason to celebrate not to worry allthe time. Everything is so serious in polish christianity...
Every year I celebrate resurrection, I also go with food to Church on Saturday and eat it together with my family on Sunday breakfast.
When I was a kid the best part of Easter was Monday. The whole day I could pour water others, it was a nice time :)
Generally poles are sad nation and even happy holidays are celebrated in sad way. I like the way to celebrate in southern countries, their processions, their happiness with the fact of the resurrection.
I'm not religious so Ester, Christmas and other holidays are for me just a nice tradition and few days that I spend with family and friends that I haven't seen because all of this rush.
When I was a kid the whole meaning of Easter was 'Lany Poniedzialek' and all this water fights.
I think that many of us have never seen young church and whole Christian world we see like sad and boring. In my opinion it’ s not like that. Young Church is full od joy, hopeful, full of love. I hope that you will take opportunities look young catholic church in the future.
Of course other traditions will always very interesting, but I like my tradition/ religioun. For me it is the same.
Thanks for your presentation. I’m happy that you broached this topic.
We just have different culture than Brazil, Mexico and Spain - they seem to celebrate everything with big parades, dancing etc. It's just their way.
I think it would be nice to participate in such events in those countries once or twice, but I don't think I would like it if I had to live near the streets on which there would be so many parades every year.