Bizarre Easter Traditions

Posted on March 23, 2008 in Offbeat

Bizzare Easter Traditions

People around the world do some strange things to celebrate Easter.

In Greece, people throw pots out of their windows to symbolize the rejection of Judas. (BBC)

In Haux, France, villagers cook a giant omelet on Easter Monday. The omelet can feed over 1,000 people, and takes over 4,500 eggs to make. (BBC)

It gets noisy in the south-eastern part of Finland, where children walk around their villages on Easter night playing an instrument such as a ratchet or cowbell. (BBC)

On Easter Monday in Poland, it’s traditional for people to pour water onto one-another. (BBC)

In some parts of the Czech Republic, there is a celebration called the "pomlazka," during which girls and women are whipped with willow twigs "to get rid of all the bad things that had accumulated during the winter and bring the vitality back in the ladies, as well as ensure beauty and, of course, fertility." (Radio Prague)

In Bacup, Lancashire, England, a group of dancers in turban-like hats, black jerseys, red and white kilts, white stockings, and black leather clogs assembles with blackened faces at a pub at 9 a.m., then dances through the town from border to border. (The Independent)

Hungerford, England still celebrates the "Hocktide Festival" on the Tuesday after Easter. The festival dates from the 14th century when Prince John of Gaunt gave the rights of free grazing and fishing to local ‘commoners’. To celebrate the town’s patronage from Prince John of Gaunt, the town crier blows his horn and calls together the Hocktide Court in the town hall. Here, all commoners, living in the most ancient house in the High Street, must pay a fine to ensure their rights of fishing and grazing. While the court continues, "Tutti-Men" with florally decorated poles are led through the streets by the "Orange-Man" to collect kisses from all the ladies resident in the High Street. They receive an orange in return. Various traditional suppers, ale-tastings, lunches and balls follow. (Woodlands Junior School)

Do you know of any strange or unusual Easter celebrations?

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