Easter is the biggest celebration in the Christian calendar, it marks the Resurrection of Jesus, three days after his Crucifixion. But even if you’re not religious, Easter is still a super interesting time of year. All across the world, people celebrate it with unique traditions, fun rituals, and meaningful moments that bring families and communities together. Today we will talk about Easter traditions in Europe.
Fun fact: Easter is always on a Sunday, the first one after the full moon following the spring equinox. That’s why the date changes every year.
Whether you’re working and traveling abroad or just curious about cultural traditions, joining in an Easter traditions in Europe is a great way to meet people, discover new cultures, and see the world from a different point of view.
Let’s check out today how Easter is celebrated in different countries in Europe:
1. 🇪🇸 Spain
In Spain, Easter is called Semana Santa (Holy Week), and it’s celebrated with powerful processions, live music, incense, and religious floats. Cities like Seville, Malaga, and Granada come alive as locals dress in traditional outfits, women in white with lace veils, men in dark jackets, and some wearing pointed hoods with spiritual meaning.
It’s a moving mix of tradition, music, and devotion.
2. 🇫🇷 France:
In France, church bells go silent from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. On Easter morning, they “return,” dropping chocolate eggs and goodies into gardens and homes for kids.
Instead of the Easter Bunny, the French talk about les cloches de Pâques, the Easter Bells. Families celebrate with a festive lunch, enjoying flavourful dishes like roast lamb, fresh vegetables, and sweet desserts shaped like fish, bells, or bunnies.
3. 🇬🇷 Greece & 🇨🇾 Cyprus
Greek Easter is full of energy, color, and special traditions. As part of the Orthodox Church, many rituals are deeply symbolic. One of the most important symbols is the red egg — it represents the blood of Christ, and the egg itself stands for new life and rebirth.
One of the most loved traditions is Tsougrisma: a fun egg-cracking game. Each person holds a red egg and tries to crack their opponent’s egg without breaking their own. The winner is believed to have good luck for the year. Lol
4. 🇳🇱 Netherlands
The Dutch celebrate Easter in a cozy and family-friendly way. Homes are decorated with spring flowers, pastel colours, and cute wooden bunnies.
Kids enjoy egg hunts in the garden and play Eiertikken, a fun egg-tapping game. A tasty Easter brunch with fresh bread, cheese, and painted eggs is a big tradition.
And don’t miss the famous Easter bread (Paasbrood) from Dutch supermarkets, filled with almond paste, it might just become your new favourite spring treat, please be careful. 🤭
5. 🇮🇪 Ireland & 🇬🇧 Uk
In Ireland, Easter is all about color, creativity, and family time. Kids decorate windows and eggs with bright paints, making everything cheerful and festive. The Easter Bunny also makes a visit, bringing chocolate eggs for the children.
A traditional Easter Sunday meal includes roast lamb, vegetables, potatoes, and sweet hot cross buns, a sweet bread with a cross on the top.
Exploring abroad during cultural holidays like Easter gives you more than just fun memories. It allows you to:
- Step into local life and see things from a different perspective
- Learn new values through traditions, symbols, and food
- Connect with people through shared experiences
- Reflect on your own culture and see it in a new light
Culture is something you feel, not just something you read about. And the more you open yourself to these moments, the more your world grows beyond the box.
If you’re thinking about living, working, or traveling abroad, take that first step today and let us guide you every step of the way. We’re here for supporting you all steps & help to find seasonal jobs with accommodation.
Discover more at roastjobs.com or reach out at hello@roastjobs.com.
You may like to read volunteer Our services in a brief, Discover Greek Cuisine, 4 Ways to Work and Travel Abroad, Your Guide to Landing the Perfect Summer Job in Greece or Cyprus , or Strategies to Overcome Culture Shock.
This blog post was written by Júlia Zapparolli. Thank you for reading! 😊
