How Easter is Celebrated Around the World (and in the YLT Team)

How Does the YLT Team Celebrate Easter?

What’s your personal Easter tradition? Holy Week is upon us, and we wanted to commemorate the holy days in our own way – by showing how different cultures mark the occasion. People throughout history and all over the globe commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ by attending a church service, culminating with an Easter Sunday service to celebrate when Jesus rose from the dead. Some don’t celebrate the religious aspect of it at all, and choose instead to enjoy colorful kites, papier-mâché figures, and chocolate eggs. There are so many different ways to spend your Easter, wherever in the world you may be – so let’s take a peek at how Easter is celebrated around the world – with a little peek behind the scenes of our YLT Translations team!

Basically, Easter is a global holiday with a thousand faces: sacred, sweet, solemn, and sugar-filled. At YLT Translations, we live and breathe international culture—so it’s only natural our team celebrates Easter in very different ways. Let’s see who hikes, who dyes Easter eggs, and who goes to church!

Did you know that the Greeks have a very special way of celebrating Easter? Read all about Greek Easter, and see if it’s similar to how you celebrate Easter with your family and loved ones!

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A Whirlwind Tour of How Easter is Celebrated Around the World

Traditionally, Easter season starts with the 40 days of Lent. Many cultures avoid eating meat and animal products, either for the entire duration or on specific days (like Fridays for Catholics, for example). Did you know though that in Ethiopia, Abiy Tsom, or the “Great Lent,” the Lenten fast is 55 days long? Observing members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (who are 13 years old and above) are allowed to eat cereals and vegetables during the abstinence, and only eat one meal a day, after 3 pm (the approximate time of Jesus’ death on Good Friday). From Good Friday to Easter Sunday, nothing at all can be taken orally. (Source: EthnoMed)

On the other hand, you have painted eggs and chocolate Easter rabbits. Where did the Easter bunny even come from? There’s certainly no mention of it in the Bible. History.com suggests that the idea came from German immigrants to Pennsylvania in the 1700s, who brought their tradition of an egg-laying hare – the “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws.” As time went on, the Easter bunny evolved into what it is now – a cuddly critter that delivers chocolate, candy, and gifts, which children “hunt” with decorated baskets. Kids also leave out carrots for hungry Easter Bunnies, who are tired from hopping around all night long.

How do people around the world celebrate Easter? Let’s take a look at some fun Easter traditions – and how our own people celebrate the holiday.

Serbia: Dye the Eggs with Onion Peel

Easter, or Vaskrs, is a major celebration in Serbia, which follows the Eastern Orthodox Church. Generally, Christians and Orthodox Christians have different calendars – the former follows the Gregorian calendar, introduced by Gregory XIII’s Inter Gravissimas, whereas the latter follows the Julian calendar introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 B.C. Did you know that last year, Pope Francis of the Catholic church met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, to discuss a common date where all Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus together, all over the world? That year would be this one, 2025. The reasoning behind this interesting development was a call for unity among Christians, from West to East, especially in today’s political fragmentation. It’s not a new idea, either; it was first floated in Vatican II, 60 years ago. (Ref: Aleteia)

Now, whether the coinciding Easter dates between the Christian and Orthodox churches is due indeed to religious discourse or just a calendar coincidence, it would definitely be nice for Christians all over the world to observe the message of Easter together, whether they’re in the Vatican, Serbia, or in politically divided areas where in might be harder to observe an Easter celebration.

Okay, religious aspects aside, how is Easter celebrated in Serbia, which is where our very own Jana is from? There’s a very interesting exercise of dying eggs. Jana explains that you take the peel from a yellow onion, and let it soak in water. Take your egg, and put a clove or some other type of vegetation on the egg, and wrap the egg in a stocking. Immerse the egg and stocking in the water to produce a beautiful brown color, with a stamp in the shape of the vegetation you chose. Here’s the egg Jana created – isn’t it beautiful?

Apparently, red eggs symbolize the blood of Christ shed at His crucifixion.

Jana also displays tulips in her home, a beautiful symbol of the rebirth and purity of Easter, but also indicative of happiness, forgiveness, royalty, and love. The red tulips symbolize love and passion, while the yellow tulips represent happiness and hope. (Ref: The In the Field Blog)

Traditionally, families also roast a lamb on Easter Sunday. This tradition hearkens back to the Jewish Passover and the exodus from Egypt, with families offering a lamb as a sacrifice to God as atonement for their sins and the salvation of all people. The Jewish people ate the lamb, without breaking its bones, along with matzos (unleavened bread) and bitter herbs. They would stain their door frames with the lamb’s blood. (Ref: Third Coast Review)

We doubt that Jana and Lazar would paint lamb’s blood on their front doors, but that lamb sure does look delicious!

Can we humble brag for a minute about this amazing woman? She’s an entrepreneur and a polyglot. She’s a wonderful wife and mother. She’s a pro-level homemaker (just look at that gorgeous setup). And it turns out she’s an amazing cook, as well! We doubt there’s anything Jana couldn’t do!

France: a Sweet Chocolate Easter

Known as Pâques in French, Easter is the most important Christian holiday in France, according to French Moments. In fact, there are two ways of referring to Easter in French: there’s “la Pâque juive,” or the Passover celebrated by the Hebrews, and the “fête chrétienne de Pâques,” or Christian Easter.

So, how do the French traditionally celebrate Easter? People tend to give each other small gifts, like keychains, to show their appreciation for one another. Many communities around France believe in the Easter Bells – because apparently, it wasn’t the Easter Bunny that distributed Easter eggs to the children on Sunday morning, but the cloches de Pâques that would bring the eggs on their way home from Rome (except for Alsace and the département of Moselle).

In addition to traditional chocolate eggs, French children also enjoy “Fritures de Pâques” – small fish-shaped chocolates. The fish is the symbol of Christianity, and these little chocolates are grouped together to represent a school of fish, in chocolate boxes or straw baskets.

Like our translator Sabine, many religious French people will hear mass on Easter morning. In fact, according to Urban Insider, you can stream Easter services from Paris’s Paroisse Saint-Germain-des-Prés or Notre-Dame-Des-Champs.

The French are quite lucky; Easter Monday is a holiday in France, so the celebrations can go on a day longer!

The DACH Region (Germany, Switzerland, and Austria): The Origin of the Easter Egg

Luckily for the Germans, Swiss, and Austrians, they have fresh springtime air, especially if they live near the Alps! Check out these 10 quirky and delightful Easter celebrations:

• Swiss Spring Hikes – Flower-filled mountain trails bloom in time for Easter, offering the perfect scenic escape. Just don’t pick the flowers — it’s illegal.
• Zwängerle Game (Switzerland) – Adults try to break kids’ Easter eggs with a coin. Win the break? You get the egg. Fail? The kid gets the coin. High stakes.
• Easter Fountains (Germany) – Southern towns, especially in Bavaria, decorate public fountains with eggs and garlands, turning them into festive landmarks.
• Easter Bonfires (Germany) – Huge community bonfires light up the night, welcoming spring with sausages, drinks, and socializing.
• Eierpecken (Austria) – A battle of hard-boiled eggs where players try to crack each other’s eggs. Last egg standing wins.
• Cold Water Egg Hunt (Switzerland) – The Blue-Egg-Swim in Lake Greifensee involves diving into freezing water to rescue floating eggs. Cheered on, rewarded with soup.
• Easter Egg Trees (Germany) – Trees and bushes are decorated with hanging Easter eggs in homes and gardens, sometimes drawing tourists.
• Palm Sunday Parades (Austria) – Tirol villages carry 30-meter-long decorated “palm branches” through town in colorful processions.
• The Easter Bunny Rules – Rooted in old Germanic mythology (hello, Ostara), the DACH countries double down on bunnies — more than eggs.
• Brunch Like a Local – Easter brunch is a beloved custom, whether it’s at home, in hotels, or cozy cafes. Expect baked goods, colorful eggs, and chocolate galore.

Did you know that public dancing is banned in many public places on Good Friday? It’s a sign of reverence for Jesus’ death.

Meet Johanna, one of our German translators. Here she is with Peppina, a stray she rescued. The dynamic duo went on many alpine hikes together before – Peppina is 13 years old now though, so she prefers to stay at home where it’s cozy and warm. If the weather permits, Johanna’s hoping to head up the trails again this Sunday!

Italy: Religious Observations on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday

There is a profound religious tradition in many Italian homes – quite fitting, given the Vatican, although an independent city-state, is housed within Rome. Many churches hold religious processions and rituals, followed by festive meals on Easter Sunday and a relaxed countryside tradition on Easter Monday, known as La Pasquetta.

Italians take Christ’s death and resurrection pretty seriously. Observation begins on Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Lenten fast, beginning several weeks before Easter itself. The Settimana Santa (Holy Week), the 7 days leading up to Easter, starts off with Palm Sunday. Masses and processions are held, especially in Sardinia and Sicily, where processions can be quite dramatic!

On Maundy Thursday (or Holy Thursday), special evening masses and local rituals are held. On Good Friday, the Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross) are reenacted across Italy. A couple of notable events include the Misteri di Trapani, a 24-hour long procession in Sicily; the lifelike statue of Christ in Le Marche that is crucified and mourned in a truly powerful display, and the Rome Colosseum Via Crucis, led by the Pope himself, the most famous Stations of the Cross in all of Italy – with thousands attending.

Easter Sunday celebrations actually begin the night before, with an Easter Vigil Mass. Many households though choose to hear mass on Easter Sunday itself, which is celebrated in many churches across the country. People bring eggs to be blessed at church. In Florence, the Scoppio del Carro (“Explosion of the Cart”) features a dove-shaped rocket igniting fireworks from an ox-drawn cart. Meals also include lamb – and often paired with artichokes and regional breads and cakes like Colomba (dove-shaped sweet bread).

La Pasquetta is celebrated through outdoor picnics, family outings, and fun local games, like cheese rolling in Umbria. Many stores are closed in celebration of Christ’s resurrection, but many tourist spots stay open.

You must know that Easter is taken very seriously in Italy; events that involve the Pope at St. Peter’s in the Vatican are major public draws, but require tickets and early arrival.

United States: Hot Cross Buns, Deviled Eggs, Jelly Beans, and an Easter Parade

The Americans look at Easter as a blend of faith, family, and fun. As the U.S is a diaspora of cultures and religions, it stands to reason that different Easter traditions and activities are also celebrated – with a happy nod to springtime, as people are usually dressed in an explosion of pastels and florals.

Some of the religious Christians attend church services on Good Friday and Sunday.

The Easter Bunny is a central figure in American Easter traditions – kids expect baskets of candy and toys – with Easter egg hunts and egg painting activities. Nowadays, adults also include little gifts like haircare sets or seasonal treats.

Major cities like New York and New Orleans host their own Easter parade, featuring festive floats, costumes, live music, and community celebrations.

Easter Sunday feasts include honey-glazed ham or a roast lamb paired with deviled eggs, potatoes, carrots, and hot cross buns, with classic American desserts like carrot cake or lemon cake, and brunch staples like biscuits, asparagus, and spring salads. Sounds delicious!

In short, Easter is one of the most colorful holidays in the United States – expect Easter weekend to be a springtime celebration filled with flowers, pastels, chocolates, and jelly beans!

Philippines: An Intense Observation Followed by a Feast

This deserves special mention, because the Easter celebration in the Philippines is on another level. The country is predominantly Catholic, with 78.8% of the population identifying as Roman Catholic – the largest Catholic nation in Asia and the 3rd largest in the world after Brazil and Mexico. Easter is actually a bigger deal in the Philippines than many people expect, and tourists are quite shocked to find most of the establishments closed during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

Palm Sunday kickstarts the celebration, a day filled with happiness and revelry. People buy palm fronds and wave them in mass, while the Priest, lectors, and commentators read aloud the “Pasyong Mahal,” which illustrates the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Christ.

Then things start to get a little more serious leading up to Easter Sunday.

Like the Italians, the Filipinos pray the Stations of the Cross, often via Bisita Iglesia, or a pilgrimage to 7 churches in one’s area. Many communities hold processions where individuals take on roles of biblical figures – in fact, in an act that’s being condemned by the Filipino church, some Filipinos practice self-flagellation with bamboo tied with ropes, even allowing themselves to be crucified on wooden crosses (yes, with actual nails, although it’s not a fatal exercise – just ask Ruben Enaje, who has been crucified more than 30 times!). The Italians probably don’t do any of that.

Other observations include the washing of the feet, where the Eucharistic Ministers play a disciple each, while the priest reenacts the act of Jesus during the Last Supper. On Biyernes Santo (Holy Friday), there isn’t actually a mass, but readings are held, communion is given, and the cross is put on the altar for quiet adoration. It’s a very solemn and quiet time of fasting and abstinence, where Filipinos typically eat only 1 meal a day. Some churches give out pan de sal (a plain bun) and water to help church-goers ward off the extreme heat.

Everything gets celebratory on Easter Sunday! Filipinos either attend the Easter Vigil on Saturday, or visit a sunrise mass, called the Salubong, where the statues of the risen Christ and a veiled Virgin Mary meet (they can also attend mass in many churches throughout the day). But during the Salubong, fireworks light up the sky, the church bells are rung, and the entire country celebrates the Resurrection of Christ.

Filipinos love to eat, and they’re a very family-centric culture, so you can expect a full fiesta of lechon (roast pig), along with other local favorites like adobo, kare-kare (a rich oxtail peanut stew), and various types of pancit (flavored noodles, hearkening back to their Chinese origins; they still believe noodles give long life and good luck!).

in other words, it’s quite an elaborate celebration to mark the empty tomb.

The Jewish Passover

The Jewish people meanwhile celebrate Passover, which interestingly ends on April 20, 2025, as well – the same day as Christian Easter.

How do Jews commemorate this holy time? First, they observe an 8-day-long festival, avoiding leavened bread, and holding a Seder, a meal that includes a retelling of the Exodus story from Egypt. The Seder is the central ritual of Passover, held on the first two nights of the observation period. The meal contains symbols of the Exodus story: roasted shank bone, egg, and bitter herbs, each with their own meaning. They also avoid eating “chametz,” any food made from wheat, barley, rye, oats, or speit. They will eat matzah instead, a flat unleavened bread that’s symbolic of the Jews’ hasty exit from Egypt.

Jews typically attend special Passover services in their synagogues of choice, and thoroughly cleanse their homes before Passover begins to remove any chametz. It’s a solemn time for the Jews to reflect on their own freedom, and to recognize the struggles they face for freedom and justice around the world. It’s a beautiful meeting of past, present, and future, and a powerful tradition that’s both solemn in parts and celebratory in others. (Ref: Today)

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How is Easter Celebrated “Unofficially” in the YLT Team?

We’re translators—so whether it’s “Joyeuses Pâques,” “Frohe Ostern,” or “Srećan Vaskrs,” we’re here for all of it.

Some of the YLT Team commemorates the religious observations, and some veg out in front of the TV with a chocolate bunny in hand.

Some go ahead and paint eggs, a very German thing to do..

Some wander around Barcelona to check out the intricate and ornate chocolate displays they have in store windows…

Silke (who translates into German) went paddle boarding in beautiful Costa Brava with her son!

So, how do you celebrate Easter? We’d love to hear it!

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From the Homes of the YLT Team to Yours: Wishing You a Lovely Easter!

And there you have it – a glimpse of how different cultures (and translators) spend the week leading up to Easter. Some dye eggs, some go on week-long vacations, some hike mountains with their four-legged best friend, and others commemorate the religiosity of the occasion. However it’s marked, Easter is a time to reflect, reconnect, and perhaps even resurrect a few cherished traditions of our own.

Wherever you are in the world, and however you choose to spend the next few days, we wish you a fabulous, restful, and memorable Easter week – in your native tongue, too!

Happy Easter from your friends at YLT Translations!

If you enjoyed that little peek behind the scenes of your favorite localization agency, read more about our growth and who we are at YLT Turns 5: It’s a Company Milestone!