What do magic jellybean trees, exploding carts and an enormous omelette have in common? They are all ways of celebrating Easter of course!
EASTER ACROSS THE GLOBE
Whilst eating chocolate, egg hunts and cards are more usual in the UK, celebrations around the globe range from simply sweet to totally flamboyant!
In the US, egg rolling at the Whitehouse is a longstanding tradition but planting ‘magic’ jellybeans that grow into lollipops overnight is a more recent twist, whilst in Florence, the elaborate ‘explosion of the cart’ ritual involves lighting fireworks inside a 400-year-old wagon on Easter Sunday.
And for the residents of Bessières in southwest France, it’s all about the cooking of a giant omelette that uses around 15,000 eggs and feeds about 2000 people!
Traditions with a Twist
But there’s also more to some of our familiar Easter traditions than meets the eye!
The origins of the Easter bunny are thought to lie in pagan traditions including an egg-laying hare named “Osterhase” and, in years gone by, hot cross buns were believed to have magical properties and were hung in homes for a full year to protect the residents!
Easter cards weren’t always so wholesome in their content as they are today. The Victorians were particularly fond of the absurd – like naked babies cracking open eggs with tiny hammers or jolly rabbits smoking egg-shaped pipes full of violets!
Image Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35361381
Image Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35361381
Celebrate Your Way
Fast forward to the present and Easter is an ever-popular Spring celebration. In 2024, around two-thirds of us bought chocolate eggs and one in five sent Easter cards* whilst 27% were enjoying more Easter activities.**
If you’re inspired to up your Easter game and introduce some new (and potentially wacky) traditions, here’s a few of our favourite ideas –
- Make and fly a kite on Good Friday like the residents of Bermuda.
- Get family and friends around an Easter firepit inspired by the Easter bonfires in The Netherlands.
- Try egg rolling, egg tapping or an egg and spoon race.
Of course, you could just pop a wreath on your door and send a few cards to spread the Easter love! Whatever you do, may your Easter be filled with joy and plenty of chocolate. Happy Easter!
* Source: One Pulse and UKG, April 2024
** Source: Global Data, 5th-16th April 2024
UK Greetings are a greeting card supplier in the UK who have been proud to create products that help people connect, for more than 100 years. Find out more About UK Greetings.
