Verrückte Osterbräuche in Deutschland, Niederlanden, Österreich, Frankreich, England, Balkan, Ungarn

Summary

In various European countries, Easter traditions are rich and diverse. Children in German-speaking countries and the Netherlands hunt for colorful eggs and sweets hidden by the Easter Bunny. In some Catholic communities, church bells remain silent from Good Friday to Easter night. In places like France and Austria, it's said the bells fly to Rome and return with treats for the children. In Eastern Europe, men splash women with water and symbolically 'whip' them with decorated branches for health and beauty. In the UK, the royal family gives out special silver coins on Maundy Thursday, and Easter egg rolling is a fun tradition.

Takeaways

• 😀 In German-speaking countries and the Netherlands, children hunt for colorful Easter eggs and sweets hidden by the Easter Bunny.
• 😀 A common tradition is to decorate branches in vases or trees in gardens with painted Easter eggs.
• 😀 In Catholic communities, church bells are not rung between Good Friday and Easter night.
• 😀 In France and Austria, it is believed that church bells fly to Rome on Good Friday and return on Easter Sunday, bringing sweets for children.
• 😀 In Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania, men splash women with water or perfume and symbolically hit them with a hand-made whip decorated with colorful ribbons on Easter Monday.
• 😀 The tradition of splashing and whipping women is said to preserve their health and beauty for the coming year.
• 😀 In the UK, the Queen traditionally distributes silver coins, known as 'Monday money,' to elderly people on Maundy Thursday, with the number corresponding to the monarch's age.
• 😀 British people also enjoy dyeing Easter eggs, similar to Germans, and engage in a game called 'egg rolling' where eggs are rolled down a hill.
• 😀 The winner of the egg rolling competition is the person whose egg reaches the bottom first.
• 😀 Easter traditions vary greatly across different countries in Europe, with a rich mix of cultural and religious practices surrounding the holiday.

Q & A

What is a common Easter tradition in German-speaking countries and the Netherlands?

In German-speaking countries and the Netherlands, children hunt for colorful Easter eggs and candies that the Easter Bunny has hidden.

What is the custom of decorating trees or branches during Easter?

In some regions, it is a tradition to decorate branches in vases or trees in the garden with colorful Easter eggs.

What happens to church bells between Good Friday and Easter night in Catholic communities?

In Catholic communities, church bells are not rung between Good Friday and Easter night.

How do people in France and Austria explain the absence of church bells during Easter?

In France and Austria, children are told that the bells fly to Rome on Good Friday and return on Easter Sunday, which is why they don't ring during this period.

What is the tradition regarding the Easter bells and sweets in France and Austria?

According to the tradition, the church bells bring back sweets for children when they return from Rome on Easter Sunday and hide them.

What are some Easter customs in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania?

In these countries, men splash women with water or perfume and symbolically hit them with hand-crafted rods decorated with colorful ribbons on Easter Monday. This is believed to preserve the health and beauty of the women for the coming year.

What is the meaning behind the splashing of women with water or perfume in Easter traditions in certain Eastern European countries?

The tradition symbolizes maintaining the health and beauty of women for the upcoming year.

What Easter tradition does the British royal family observe on Maundy Thursday?

On Maundy Thursday, the British royal family distributes 'Maundy money' to the elderly. The amount of money corresponds to the age of the reigning monarch.

How much Maundy money will be given out this year in the UK, and to whom?

This year, 87 pence will be given to 87 pensioners, in accordance with the age of the reigning monarch.

What is the tradition of egg rolling in the UK during Easter?

In the UK, people enjoy coloring Easter eggs and then rolling them down a hill. The winner is the person whose egg reaches the bottom first.