1 The tradition in Germany to decorate the branches of trees and bushes with eggs for Easter is centuries old, but its origins have been lost. The egg is an ancient symbol of life all over the world. Eggs are hung on branches of outdoor trees and bushes and on cut branches inside. The custom is found mostly in Germany and Austria, but also in other German-influenced places. An exceptional example is Saalfelder Ostereierbaum, an apple tree in the garden of Volker Kraft in Saalfeld, Thuringia. Kraft and his family have been decorating the tree since 1965, starting with just 18 plastic eggs. By 1994 the Krafts had increased the number of eggs to about 350 pieces. As the tree grew, they needed more eggs for decorating. Between 1994 and 2009, the family hung an annual average of 700 new Easter eggs on the tree, but due to losses by storm and vandalism, the net annual average increase was 590 eggs. In 2012 there were over 10,000 eggs on the Easter egg tree. The honor of most eggs in one tree belongs to the Rostock Zoo, which in April 2007 decorated a red oak with 79,596 blown and painted eggs, which earned it an entry in Guinness World Records.
2 Easter fires are typically bonfires lit before, during, or after Easter Sunday as part of secular and religious celebrations. It is a Saxon, pre-Christian tradition, that is still performed each year. There are several explanations of the meaning of these fires. The Saxons probably believed that around the time of Easter, Spring becomes victorious over Winter. The fires were supposed to help chase the darkness and winter away. It was also a symbol of fertility, which works in a literal sense in that the ashes were scattered over the meadows and thereby fertilized the soil. Nowadays they are meant primarily to bring the community together.
3 In Sweden and parts of Finland, a mini-Halloween takes place on either the Thursday or Saturday before Easter. Little girls dress up in rags and old clothes, too-big skirts and shawls and go door to door with a copper kettle looking for treats. The little witches go from door to door, bringing willow twigs decorated with colourful feathers and crepe paper as blessings to drive away evil spirits, in return for treats. The witches recite a traditional rhyme at the door: Virvon, varvon, tuoreeks terveeks, tulevaks vuodeks; vitsa sulle, palkka mulle! (In translation: I wave a twig for a fresh and healthy year ahead; a twig for you, a treat for me!) Many households keep a basket of small chocolate Easter eggs ready by the door to pay off the marauding witches. Other families reward them with sweets or small change.
4 For Greek Orthodox Christians one of the oldest Easter traditions are red-dyed eggs. Red Easter eggs are associated with the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Eggs symbolize the empty rock tomb from which Jesus arose after his crucifixion and are used as universal means of greeting and presentation for Christian believers, while also foretelling the eternal life experience which awaits true believers after death. The Greek Orthodox tradition is for eggs to be dyed red on Holy Thursday in commemoration of the Last Supper, the final meal which Jesus shared with his Apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion.
5 Tsoureki (tsoo-REH-kee)is the traditional bread of Greek Easter. A sweet egg bread that is the traditional bread of Greek Easter. The three-strand braid symbolizes the Holy Trinity, while the red-dyed hard-boiled egg braided into the dough symbolizes the blood of Christ. With or without the festive red egg this is a sweet and delicious treat. Tsoureki is a rich yeast bread flavored with orange and a delightful spice called Mahlab (also called Mahlepi) that is ground from the pits of wild cherries. The red Easter eggs that make this traditional bread so special are for decorative purposes only. Do not eat them.
6 Young, live pussywillow twigs are thought to bring health and youth to anyone who is whipped with them in this Czech tradition. An Easter pomlázka (frompomladit or "make younger") is a braided whip made from pussywillow twigs. It has been used for centuries by boys who go caroling on Easter Monday and symbolically whip girls on the legs. In the past, pomlázka was also used by the farmer's wife to whip the livestock and everyone in the household, including men and children.
7 An egg-and-spoon race is a sporting event in which participants must balance an egg upon a spoon and race with it to the finishing line. If the egg falls from the spoon then competitors may be required to stop, retrieve, and reposition their egg, or to start again, or may even be disqualified. For an extra challenge, contestants might carry the spoon with both hands, in their mouths, or have their hands tied behind their backs. Not surprisingly, these are popular events at Easter gatherings.
8 Bilbies are native Australian marsupials that are endangered. To raise money and increase awareness of conservation efforts, bilby-shaped chocolates and related merchandise are sold within many stores throughout Australia as an alternative to Easter bunnies. The first documented use of the Easter Bilby concept was in March 1968 when a 9-year-old girl Rose-Marie Dusting, wrote a story, "Billy The Aussie Easter Bilby," which she published as a book 11 years later. The story helped catalyze the public's interest in saving the bilby. In 1991 Nicholas Newland from the 'Foundation for Rabbit-Free Australia' also developed the idea of the Easter Bilby to raise awareness about the environmental damage that feral rabbits cause and to replace the Easter bunny with true native wildlife.
9 On Easter Monday, a Hungarian tradition called "locsolkodás" involves boys and men reciting a poem to women and girls and then "sprinkling" them with perfume. In extreme cases (and when the tradition started) this can also be achieved with a bucket of cold water! Originally it was young women of marriage-age who would be the victims but now the act (which has links to earlier pagan fertility rituals) has expanded to women of all ages - even relatives and colleagues. In the past it was a form of courtship and young women would be happy to be "sprinkled" by many potential suitors. In return for each "sprinkling" the ladies give the men chocolate Easter eggs, specially decorated painted eggs, home made cakes and/or a shot of pálinka (a potent Hungarian fruit brandy).
10 Cascarones are common throughout Latin American and are similar to the American Easter eggs popular in many other countries. Decorated, confetti-filled cascarones may be thrown or crushed over the recipient's head to shower him or her with confetti. Having a cascarón broken over one's head is said to bring good luck.
Osterfeuer (Easter bonfire), Hückeswagen, Germany 2015
(c) Bart Rozalski
Many people gather around large bonfires reaching several meters high on the eve of Easter Sunday. Often the wood of old Christmas trees is used for this occasion.
This German custom is actually an old pagan ritual dating back to before Christ to symbolize the coming of spring. Back then it was believed that any home or field shone upon by the light of the fire would be protected from sickness and misfortune.
