This Sunday is Easter Sunday. We will attend Church and then have dinner at my parents house with Mom, Dad, and my brother’s family. Pretty standard stuff.
The kid (mine as well as my brother’s) are older now but they decided to get together this morning to dye Easter Eggs for old times sake. (with the cost of eggs, go easy kids!)
This is a tradition we did as kids and I imagine it goes way back long before my childhood for sure. It always makes me laugh to think about these traditions. Dye eggs? An Easter Bunny that lays eggs? Easter Egg hunts? Apparently we have quite the obsession with eggs. I did a quick search to see if it was limited to the US and below is just some quick info.
My question today is this: What traditions do you associate with the Easter Holiday? I know I have some visitors to this site from multiple countries, so I’m curious what you do differently. Please comment! Happy Easter!
The Easter Bunny tradition is not exclusive to the US, but it is most prominent there. While the Easter Bunny is a common figure in the US and some parts of Europe, other countries have different Easter traditions involving other animals or characters. For example, in Australia, it’s the Easter Bilby, and in France, it’s believed that bells bring Easter eggs.
Here’s a more detailed look:
- US and Some European Countries: The Easter Bunny is a popular figure, often associated with leaving colored eggs, chocolate, and other gifts for children.
- Australia: The Easter Bilby is the primary symbol of the holiday, with the Bilby being a rabbit-like marsupial native to Australia.
- France: Children believe that bells from churches bring them Easter eggs.
- Germany: Some areas have traditions involving the Easter Fox or Easter Rooster.
- Switzerland: The Easter Cuckoo is a common symbol.
- Sweden: The Easter Witch (Påskkäring) is part of the tradition.
- Russia: Dogs are said to lay Easter eggs.
- Japan: The American version of the Easter Bunny has been adopted.
The Easter Bunny’s Origins:
- The Easter Bunny tradition likely originated with German immigrants in Pennsylvania, who brought the idea of the “Osterhase” (Easter hare) to America.
- Over time, the tradition spread across the US and became more associated with chocolate and gifts.
