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MATCH THE COUNTRY TO THE EASTER
TRADITION OBSERVED THERE
Country List:
Armenia - Brazil - Finland - Hungary
Australia - Bulgaria - France - Italy
Bermuda - Ethiopia - Germany - India
Indonesia - Nigeria - Russia - Kenya
Philippines - Syria - Mexico - Poland
UK - USA
Traditions:
1. No church bells ring between Holy Thursday and the
Easter Vigil in observance of the Passion of Christ. Legend
says the church bells grow wings and fly to Rome to be
blessed by the pope, returning on Easter with chocolate
and presents for the children. In one town, chefs make a
giant omelet with 4,500 eggs to feed 1,000 people in the
main square.
2. Christians celebrate Easter with carnivals, street theater,
songs, dances, and give gifts of colorful lanterns, chocolates
and flowers.
3. Residents in this nation bake eggs right into a traditional
Easter bread. In one city, the archbishop ignites a cartful of
fireworks with a dove-shaped rocket at the cathedral,
as an expression of the desire for peace. The next day,
competitors roll huge wheels of cheese around the
perimeter of another village.
4. This country observes Easter with a rodeo, Easter
bonnet parade, and the Easter Bilby or bandicoot, an
endangered species with big, soft ears like rabbits and
long noses like mice.
5. On Easter in this nation, people bring baskets with
colored eggs, sausages and bread to church to be
blessed. The next day, boys try to get girls (and each
other) wet any way they can. Supposedly, girls who
get drenched will wed within the year. That tradition
stems from the baptism of a prince on Easter Monday,
A.D. 966.
6. Performers in this nation dance and sing through the
streets of the capital, wearing extravagant costumes,
headdresses and masks.
7. In this nation, on Good Friday, people plant parsley
to commemorate Jesus' liberation of those in hell.
According to ancient Roman tradition, parsley goes
seven times to hell and back before germinating.
Led by a man with a whip called the "Whiffler" on
Easter, men dressed in hats, red and white striped
skirts, with bells around their ankles, wave ribbons
as they dance the Nutter's Dance, traditionally
meant to fend off evil spirits.
8. People in this country and several others
traditionally serve hot cross buns and other breads
marked with an X to symbolize the cross on Good Friday.
9. Sixty-seven percent of the citizens of this country
serve ham for Easter dinner in celebration of the end
of Lent. Children are invited to the president's house
for an egg roll on the lawn. The first Easter Sunrise
Service, marking the risen Christ's appearance to
Mary at dawn, was held in this country in 1773.
10. Native artists hand-carve soapstone Easter
to present as gifts in banana fiber boxes.
11. On Easter Monday, boys try to sprinkle
perfume or water on girls they like, hoping for
a kiss.
12. During Holy Week, people hang straw dolls
or effigies of Judas (the disciple who betrayed
Christ) in the streets and beat them up.
13. Here, people process through the streets with
statues that depict the crucifixion and resurrection
of Christ. Young men vie for the honor of portraying
Christ as they are tied to a cross on the route of the
procession.
14. On this island nation on Good Friday, the locals fly
homemade kites, a tradition that began when a local
teacher illustrated Christ's ascension to heaven using
a kite shaped like a cross.
15. After a 56-day fast from meat and all animal
products, Christians in this nation dress in white to
celebrate mass; sing hymns, accompanied by drums;
and feast with non-Christians on roast chicken, goat
and rice. Churches are decorated in handmade fabric
with butterfly, flower and banana tree prints.
16. Here the oldest woman in the family rubs children's
cheeks with the first red egg she has colored, a sign that
she hopes they will be healthy and strong.
17. Easter eggs in this country are all colored red,
representing the blood of Christ.
18. In this country, thousands of multicolored eggs
are hung from trees at Easter.
19. People burn bonfires on Easter Sunday in this
nation, to scare off witches, who supposedly fly
around on brooms between Good Friday and
Easter Sunday.
20. At dawn on Easter, children dressed as angels
process through town to mark the resurrection of
Christ.
21. During Holy Week, people hang elaborate palm
decorations in their homes.
22. The Easter meal in this country features a lamb-
shaped butter sculpture symbolizing Jesus as the
Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
EASTER TRADITION MATCH QUIZ ANSWER KEY
1. France
2. India
3. Italy
4. Australia
5. Poland
6. Nigeria
7. United Kingdom
8. Armenia
9. USA
10. Kenya
11. Hungary
12. Brazil
13. Indonesia
14. Bermuda
15. Ethiopia
16. Bulgaria
17. Syria
18. Germany
19. Finland
20. The Philippines
21. Mexico
22. Russia
Prayer
From the depths of the grave, Lord Jesus Christ,
you emerged, breaking the hold of sin, death
and hell, that those who trust in you might
share in your righteousness, life and beloved
community with God the Father and all God's
children. We bow in awe before your majesty,
giving thanks for your grace extended so bounty-
fully to us. By the power of your Spirit who lives
within us, may we share the astonishing news of
your resurrection with others, that they may also
come to know your saving grace. Amen