When someone thinks of Easter, they think of candlelight, flowers, music, and, of course, the Easter bunny. It’s a festival of fun and happiness and a treasure for kids to hunt for their chocolate eggs. The multi-colored Easter eggs are probably the most recognized aspect of the festival. However, it’s not the only tradition followed during this Holiday. World-over, many places have different and quirky traditions associated with Easter. From witches to crime shows, here are five Easter traditions that you’ve probably never heard of.
It’s the Time to Splash in Hungary
The Hungarians have a different albeit fun tradition that they follow at Easter. During Easter Sunday, the women dress up in traditional attire and are splashed with water by the men. Sometimes, they even have entire buckets dunked in their heads! This tradition has its roots in cleansing and fertility rituals.
The Red Eggs of Greece
We’ve all seen chocolate eggs, multi-color jeweled eggs, and hand-painted eggs, but it seems people in Greece only go for red-colored eggs. This is because the red color is also the color of life. Since The Greeks keep their eggs red to symbolize the renewal of life.
The Bunny Hunt in New Zealand
Easter might bring to mind kids and music and Easter egg hunts in the gardens, but the folks in Otago, New Zealand take it to a whole new and darker level. The Great Easter Bunny Hunt is organized every year with the idea of ridding farmlands of invasive rabbits. Around 500 hunters vie every year for the prize and over 10,000 bunnies celebrate their last Easter every holiday.
The Criminal Underbelly of Norway
It might sound ominous but is actually anything but. It’s actually a thrilling tradition where crime shows and books take center stage. New detective novels and reruns of old favorite crime shows are all the rage. Even the milk cartons have short detective stories published on the side!
The Whips in the Czech Republic and Slovakia
This tradition is understandably under much scrutiny and in hot water now as it involves the local men and boys, lightly swiping at girls with willow switches on the road. Apparently, this tradition is apparently meant to encourage good health and beauty, but it might be best to skip these regions if you’re a woman traveling during the holidays.