Would you like to know some interesting facts about Easter?

If you don’t know the answer to these questions, Ksenia will help you because she has found some interesting facts about Easter celelbrations in different countries and will be happy to share.

Which animal is used in Australia instead of a rabbit? Why?

The Easter Bilby is an Australian alternative to the Easter Bunny.

Bilbies are native Australian marsupials that are endangered. To raise money and increase awareness of conservation efforts, bilby-shaped chocolates and related merchandise are sold within many stores throughout Australia as an alternative to Easter bunnies.

The Romans, in an effort to mock Jesus, gave him a “crown”of what?

After his condemnation by Pontius Pilate, Jesus was flogged and mocked by Roman soldiers. They clothed him with a “purple” or “scarlet” robe symbolizing a royal gown since purple was a royal color, put a crown of thorns on his head symbolizing a royal crown, and put a staff in his hand symbolizing a scepter. They then knelt before him and said, “Hail, king of the Jews!”. This was done as a mockery of Jesus’ kingship. After this, they spat on him and struck him on the head with the staff repeatedly.

What does the Easter egg represent?

Easter eggs, also called Paschal eggs, are decorated eggs that are usually used as gifts on the occasion of Easter. As such, Easter eggs are common during the season of Eastertide (Easter season). They represent new life. The oldest tradition is to use dyed and painted chicken eggs, but a modern custom is to substitute chocolate eggs wrapped in colorful foil, or plastic eggs filled with confectionery such as chocolate.

Why is a lamb one of the symbols of Easter?

The lamb comes from the Jewish Passover, where each family killed a lamb as a sacrifice. When Christ became the Passover Lamb for everyone, the lamb became a symbol for His sacrifice. It is usual for the Pope to have roast lamb on Easter Sunday. Early Christians also saw the lamb as a symbol of Jesus and used it for Easter celebration. Many people serve lamb as part of the Easter feast.

Who brings Easter eggs?

Easter bunny brings Easter eggs in many countries.

Some of the countries with this tradition are:

• the United States and England
• Germany
• Austria
• Switzerland (where the Easter Bunny is called “Osterhase”)
• the Netherlands (where it’s called “paashaas”)
• Denmark (“Påskehare”).

In Italy, only the parents or grandparents have to ask themselves this question, since they are the ones the kids get their chocolate eggs from. In Italy, children get truly beautiful sweets. Some are even bigger than the Italian children themselves, are decorated with multi-colored sparkling paper and filled with lots of sweets and small presents.

In Australia, where rabbits are considered pests, the small marsupial resembling a rabbit called the Bilby has increasingly taken on the role of Easter and now takes care of the Easter gifts.

In Norway, Easter eggs are still hidden, but Easter bunny has the day off. Instead, he sends over his representative, the Easter Chick ( Påskekyllinger).

An old tradition in Sweden is the so-called Easter Witch (Påskkärring). Swedish children dress up as witches or old ladies and go from house to house with pictures they’ve drawn in hopes of receiving some sweets in exchange for their hard work.

The Easter Witch is also a tradition in Finland.

In France, there is a lovely Easter story told to children. Since no church bells ring in France from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, there’s a legend that says all the bells fly to Rome on Good Friday. There they are blessed and return on Easter Sunday loaded with chocolate eggs and other sweets. On their way back, they drop the treats over the cities and villages in France for the children to find.

What do the traditional Hot Cross Buns contain?

A hot cross bun is a spiced sweet bun made with currants or raisins, marked with a cross on the top, and traditionally eaten on Good Friday in the British Isles, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and some parts of the Americas.

The buns mark the end of Lent and different parts of the hot cross bun have a certain meaning, including the cross representing the crucifixion of Jesus, and the spices inside signifying the spices used to embalm him at his burial.