Easter is a great time to visit a European city. Not only is the weather getting warmer and more spring-like, but Easter traditions and celebrations can make your stay a lot of fun !
Here is a round up of how Easter is celebrated in France, Spain, Germany and Italy:
France
In France, Easter is called Paques and is celebrated with cultural customs centring around rabbits, chocolates and eggs and various religious ceremonies commemorating the rebirth of Jesus.
Most churches in France have a bell, which is rung joyfully throughout the year marking various events and the passage of time. In France all church bells are silenced on the Thursday before Good Friday, in acknowledgement of Christ's crucifixion. They are rung again on Easter Sunday in celebration of his resurrection. In fun, children are told that the bell's chimes have flown to Rome when they were silenced on the Thursday before Easter Friday to see the Pope and fetch their eggs.
Early on Easter morning, French children rush into the garden to watch the bells "Fly back from Rome." As the little ones are busy scanning the sky for a glimpse of the returning bells, their parents and grandparents hide chocolate eggs.
In France chocolate eggs look more like works of art than anything edible. They are truly amazing. Lots of people stroll along the avenues peering into the shop windows as if they are at a museum or art show.
At Easter the chocolatiers also display chocolate fish or poisson d'Avril which are enjoyed throughout the entire Easter season first appearing in shops on April 1st. The French equivalent of April fools is when children try to stick paper fish on to the back of as many adults as possible running away squealing "Posson du Avril" - April Fish not April Fool.
For details on our hotels in Paris click here, for details on our hotels in Nice click here and for details on our hotels on the French Riviera click here.
Spain
Semana Santa (or Holy Week) is the Spanish name for Easter. It dates back to the 16th century when the Church decided to present the story of the Passion of Christ in a way that a layperson could understand. It was thought that the best way to do this would be a series of processions through the streets, depicting scenes from the story of the fall and rise again of Jesus Christ.
Though the style and mood of Semana Santa in Spain varies from city to city, the basic components remain the same. Each day there is a number of processions, one from each brotherhood in the city, made up of floats which are carried from their church to the cathedral and back again. Most brotherhoods carry two floats, one with Christ and one with his mourning mother, the Virgin Mary.
The floats are heavy, so are carried by strong men - but with the procession lasting many hours, even they will feel the pain. The suffering experience is likened to that experienced by Christ and the men (known as costaleros) consider it a great honor to carry the float, despite (and indeed, because of) the pain involved. Most processions take place in the evening - the earliest being at about 6pm, with the biggest procession of the day usually at about 11pm. Good Friday is the big day. The events from Thursday evening never really stop, with processions from Thursday night (the early hours of Friday morning) until Friday evening. Unless you have an excellent capacity to drink large quantities of coffee, you'll have to miss some of it to get a little beauty sleep. The events of Thursday night/Friday morning are the most important, so plan your sleep around this fact.
The mass of Easter Sunday, the last day of Semana Santa, is also important. The hoods that have been worn throughout the week to signify mourning at the death of Jesus Christ, are taken off to celebrate the resurrection.
For details of our hotels in Madrid click here and for details of our hotels in Barcelona click here, and for details of our hotels in Palma click here.
Germany
Easter is one of the most popular holidays in Germany; after a cold and long German winter, Easter marks the eagerly anticipated spring. Many Easter traditions are said to have originated in Germany – including the chocolate bunny, coloured eggs and the Easter egg hunt.
In the weeks prior to Easter, Germany gets ready for a new season: You will see spring flowers on display and many traditional "Easter trees", twigs and brushes dripping with colorfully decorated eggs.
The custom of boiling and painting eggs, the symbols of new life, began in Germany; the bright colors represent sunlight and growth. Next to the Easter egg, the rabbit is probably the most popular Easter icon; the Easter bunny, symbolizing fertility, was first mentioned in German writings in the 16th century. Around 1800, the first edible Easter bunnies were made in Germany.
The Easter weekend in Germany begins with a quiet Good Friday (Karfreitag). Many families eat fish as their traditional Good Friday lunch. Easter Saturday is a great day to visit an open-air Easter market, where you can browse for artistically handcrafted Easter eggs, carved Easter decoration, and local arts and crafts. Stop by a German bakery for a special Easter treat: a sweet cake in the shape of a lamb. Easter Sunday is the highlight of the holiday weekend, with Easter egg hunts, church services and a traditional Easter lunch.
For details of our hotels in Berlin click here, and for details of our hotels in Munich click here.
Italy
While you probably won't see the Easter bunny if you're in Italy for Easter, you will find some interesting Italian Easter celebrations. Like all holidays in Italy, Easter, Pasqua in Italian, has its share of rituals and traditions.
While Easter mass will be held in every church in Italy, the biggest and most popular mass is held by the Pope at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. On Good Friday, the Pope celebrates the Via Crucis in Rome near the Colosseum. A huge cross with burning torches lights the sky as the stations of the cross are described in several languages. At the end, the Pope gives a blessing.
In Florence, Easter is celebrated with the Scoppio del Carro, explosion of the cart. A huge, decorated wagon is dragged through Florence by white oxen until it reaches Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence's historic center. Following mass, the Archbishop sends a dove-shaped rocket into the cart, igniting the fireworks held in the cart. This spectacular display is followed by a parade in medieval costumes.
Solemn religious processions are held in many towns on the Friday or Saturday before Easter and sometimes on Easter Sunday. Many churches have special statues of the Virgin and Jesus that play a big part in the processions. The statues may be paraded through the city or displayed in the main square. Parade participants are often dressed in traditional ancient costumes. Olive branches are often used instead of or along with palm fronds in the processions and to decorate churches.
Since Easter is the end of the Lent season, food plays a big part in the celebrations. Traditional Easter foods include lamb or goat, artichokes, and special Easter breads that vary from region to region. Pannetone and Columba (dove shaped) breads are often given as gifts as are hollow chocolate eggs that usually come with a surprise inside.
For details of our hotels in Rome click here, for details of our hotels in Milan click here, for details of our hotels in Florence click here, for details of our hotels in Venice click here and for details of our hotels in Verona click here.
To book call our reservations team on 0131 243 8098. We would strongly recommend booking early, as Easter is a very busy time.