Eating Ham and Deviled Eggs

The Easter Bunny isn't the only one with a thing for eggs. Many people throughout
……………. sit down around a dinner table that's laden with holiday favorites like ham
and deviled eggs, according to the Farmer's Almanac.

Ham became a popular dinner choice years ago largely by default, since the pigs that
went to slaughter in the fall would've had plenty of time to cure over those long winter
months, making them ready for eating just as spring rolled around. Similarly, deviled
eggs are a popular choice because of the way eggs are used symbolically throughout the
holiday as a symbol of rebirth.

Wearing Easter Bonnets

Another Easter tradition in……………….. is the donning of the Easter bonnet. This fancy hat
became a popular addition to Sunday church attire because of how it
represents a commitment to renewal when paired with new Easter clothes.
These head coverings are loosely tied with the end of Lent, which is when
they would be purchased assumably after a period of frugal financing where
such luxuries were typically not purchased. They're also a great Easter craft
for kids who want to DIY their way to a new holiday hat. In fact, at the height
of their popularity in the 1990s, department stores would often sell kits for
children who would then enter their hats into a contest.

Dining on Hot Cross Buns

In…………. and parts of …………………., hot cross buns are more than just a
tune you have to learn as a kid; they're an Easter favorite. The island countries
enjoy noshing on these dense treats on Easter, which occurs during their
meteorological fall. Once you know that Easter comes right before their winter, it
makes more sense that they'd be drawn to this bit of comfort food over the
holiday.

Dyeing Easter Eggs Red

In …………………, those who celebrate Easter through the Orthodox church forego the typical
mix of colors when it comes time to dye eggs, instead focusing on a singular shade: red.

The crimson hued eggs are doubly symbolic since they use the eggs to
represent rebirth and the color red for Jesus' blood, marking the triumphant
return of the son of God.
People can get very creative with their red eggs, creating different shades, intricate designs,
and more.

Starting a Bonfire
In some parts of Europe, people will celebrate Easter by striking a match. In …………………
communities it's common to kick off a two-day celebration that begins on Sunday by starting a
bonfire. These fires are aptly named Easter Fires, and they were originally set to help chase the
darkness of winter away. Over the years they've become a fun way for community members to
come together and celebrate the coming spring.

We have to imagine that they've kept their popularity over the years thanks to being the first big
gathering following weeks of winter solitude.

Eating Chocolate Easter Bilbies

Rabbits get a bad rap in ………………, where the cute little loppy-eared animals are considered
more of a pest than a pet, according to National Geographic. This is why in 1991, Rabbit-Free
Australia launched a campaign to replace the Easter bunny with the Easter bilby, a rabbit-eared
bandicoot.

It would appear that the change did help the rabbit's image a bit, since many
companies now make chocolate bilbies for Easter, according to HuffPost, with
proceeds benefiting the endangered animals.

Gathering for Fireworks Displays

In ……………………, locals celebrate a 350-year-old Easter tradition known as Scoppio del Carro,
or "explosion of the cart" that dates all the way back to the First Crusade, according to Visit
Florence.
An ornate cart is loaded with fireworks and then led through the streets by people in colorful
15th century costumes. Once the cart reaches the Duomo, the Archbishop of Florence lights a
fuse from inside the church during Easter mass, sparking a lively fireworks display.

Some Mexican traditions also involve fireworks, like the ones that take place on Holy Saturday.
The Judas Burning is celebrated by taking giant papier-mâché figures of Judas Iscariot and
stuffing them with fireworks so that they can be blown up in local plazas.

Dressing in Costumes
Dressing up as Easter witches is a fun Easter tradition that young children of ………….. take
part in. The kids wear colorful clothing with painted freckles on their cheeks,
usually on Palm Sunday in eastern Finland and Holy Saturday in western
Finland. The little witches go door-to-door with willow twigs decorated with
colorful feathers and crepe paper. Then they recite a rhyming blessing meant
to drive away evil spirits in exchange

for a chocolate egg.

Participating in the Great Easter Bunny Hunt

Rabbits continue to find themselves unwelcomed around the world. Just like in …………………..
has also found a new way to get around their bad bunny problem. Unfortunately for the furry
friends, it's not as tame as eating chocolate bilbies.The tradition has a specific reason behind it,
though. The goal is to cut down the rabbit population, which is an introduced species and
negatively affects the biodiversity of the environment.

Eating a Giant Omelet

Don't forget a fork and your appetite if you happen to be in …………………… on Easter Monday.
Each year, a giant omelet is served up in the town's main square, according to Atlas Obscura.
And when we say giant, we mean giant: The omelet uses more than 15,000 eggs and feeds up to
1,000 people.

Throwing Water

On the morning of Holy Saturday, the traditional "pot throwing" takes place in ……………….
People throw pots, pans, and other earthenware often filled with water out of their
windows where they crash down to the street below. Some say the custom derives
from the Venetians, who on New Year's Day used to throw out all of their old items.
Others believe the throwing of the pots welcomes spring, symbolizing the new crops
that will be gathered in the new pots.

In …………… , pouring water on one another is an Easter tradition called

Śmigus-dyngus, a.k.a. Wet Monday. People gather on Easter Monday to
try and drench each other with buckets of water, squirt guns, or anything
they can get their hands on. Legend says girls who get soaked on Wet
Monday will marry within the year.

Decorating Willow Branch Whips

In a particularly unique tradition, ………………. boys tie ribbons to willow
branch whips on Easter Monday and gently "whip" girls to wish them good
luck and health. The practice isn't well received by all, with many …………
women disagreeing with the enduring Easter custom. Unfortunately for them,
many believe it's an important piece of folklore and culture.

Reading Crime Novels

Those who live in ……………. like to spend their Easter cozying up to a good
book, according to Visit ……………. Many people use the holiday to hunker
down in a cabin, ski, and read crime novels (or watch crime shows on
television).

The tradition is said to have started in 1923 when a book publisher promoted
its new crime novel on the front pages of newspapers. The ads resembled
news so much that people didn't know it was a publicity stunt, so it received massive attention.
The rest, they say, is history. It also helps that in …………….., there's plenty of time to relax and
read, thanks to the length of the Easter holiday season.