From oranges to chapati to a squeaky-clean house, popular Easter traditions vary widely from place to place.
18 Easter Traditions from Around the World
Updated on Feb. 28, 2025
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Italy
Easter is a very important religious holiday in Italy. But unlike Christmas—which is always a family affair—at Easter, Italians most often celebrate with friends. Try your hand at this Italian Easter Bread (aka pane di pasqua), which is often served as part of a traditional meal with Torta Pasqualina (aka Italian Easter Pie).
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Mexico
After Easter Sunday Mass in Mexico, congregants spill out into the plazas to eat street foods and begin the Semana de Pascua, a week of family vacation time. Make chicken croquetas and churros to bring Mexican street food flavors to your Easter brunch.
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Norway
Norwegians eat more than 20 million oranges on Easter weekend. The tradition is believed to have originated when oranges were only available during their late winter season. They were a harbinger of spring and brighter days to come. Perhaps you’ll choose one of these orange recipes to brighten your holiday table.
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France
The French celebrate Easter with lots of chocolate! Would you expect anything else? The windows of chocolateries are filled with exquisite and intricate chocolate creations in the shape of eggs, hens and bells. Don’t have a degree in patisserie? You can make your own chocolate eggs at home filled with an American staple—peanut butter.
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Australia
Australia celebrates Easter a little bit differently than we do in the U.S. There’s no Easter Bunny; instead, they have the Easter Bilby, a small, endangered rodent native to the country. But tradition prevails when it comes to hot cross buns, which show up in bakeries weeks before the holiday.
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Ukraine
One of the most well-known Ukrainian Easter traditions is the painting of beautiful eggs, known as pysanky, with intricate designs. Painting a pysanka at home may be complicated for beginners, so instead we have some Easter egg decorating ideas for you to try!
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Portugal
Almonds symbolize eggs, fertility and spring in Portugal. In accordance with ancient tradition, godparents give sugar-coated almonds to their godchildren at Easter. These tasty cinnamon toasted almonds would be a great way to bring the spirit of this custom into your own home.
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Greece
Different parts of Greece have their own unique Easter customs, from throwing clay pots into the streets on Corfu, to having fireworks battles on Chios. But no matter where they are, Greeks love lamb on Easter Sunday. Put your spin on this tradition with one of our lamb recipes.
Can’t enough of Greek flavors? Check out these Greek Easter recipes perfect for all of your celebrations.
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Germany
Prior to Lent, Germany celebrates Karneval or Fasching. Cities hold large parades, children dress up in costume and people party in the streets. On Fat Tuesday, do as the Germans do and indulge in jelly doughnuts known as Berliners, krapfen or pfannkuchen before the Lenten restrictions begin.
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United Kingdom
In the UK, Fat Tuesday is known as Pancake Day. Pancakes are eaten to use up all the eggs and fats before Lent. They even have pancake races, with people running through the streets flipping pancakes in a skillet. We think homemade pancakes would make a fantastic Easter breakfast!
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Austria
Austrians enjoy a baked ham for Easter Sunday lunch. However, it’s not the traditional honey-glazed ham you might make in the States. They bake an entire ham encased in bread dough. It’s a ready-made ham sandwich right out of the oven. Pass the mustard!
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Ireland
In Ireland, it’s tradition to clean the house from top to bottom on Good Friday. This accomplishes the tasks of spring cleaning and preparing for a house full of family at the same time. Get your kitchen sparkling for Easter with these cleaning hacks.
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Kenya
Good Friday is a solemn day of worship, personal reflection and charitable acts in Kenya. But Easter Monday brings a more joyful and relaxed mood, with Kenyans taking trips to the beach, having picnics and enjoying traditional foods like nyama choma (grilled meat) and chapati, a flaky bread similar to the Indian flatbread known as paratha.
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Hungary
Hundreds of years ago in some parts of Hungary, young men would take women to the well and dump a bucket of water on them to promote fertility. Thankfully nowadays, Hungarian men give women perfume instead, then everyone sits down to a meal of hard-boiled eggs, ham and a sweet bread known as milk loaf. Bake some brioche rolls to bring this delicious sweet and savory combo to your table.
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Argentina
Holy week in Argentina is filled with processions, street fairs and even rodeo events, depending on the region. Easter lunch is often celebrated with an asado, a traditional barbecue featuring grilled meats of every kind. Whether you’re grilling or not, whip up some zesty Argentinian chimichurri sauce to serve alongside your main course.
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Sweden
Easter in Sweden is marked by the tradition of children dressing up like witches and going door to door asking for candy on Maundy Thursday, much like Halloween in America. Lunch on Sunday is a smorgasbord of bite-sized delights. Wouldn’t your guests love some Swedish meatballs on the buffet this year?
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Spain
Spain is renowned for its processions during Holy Week, especially the ones in Seville with their legendary pasos. These are large floats carrying life-sized wooden sculptures of characters from the bible. Throughout the week, Spaniards enjoy torrijas, a popular dessert made of bread dipped in milk or wine then fried and served with sugar or syrup. Peruse some of our favorite Easter dessert recipes to get inspiration for your own sweet treats.
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Philippines
In the Philippines, the Easter meal might start with a stuffed crispy roasted pork belly called lechon. When it’s time for dessert, families enjoy bilo-bilo, which consists of glutinous rice balls, fresh jackfruit and tapioca pearls swimming in sweetened coconut milk.
