How to Celebrate Easter 2009 Around the World

How do you plan to celebrate this Easter? In Western Europe there is something hot going on! There are a variety of Easter-Fire festivals taking place, which are traditionally held on the Saturday before Easter Sunday. It is the unusual Catholic tradition to extinguish all fires burning in a church and then to make a new fire to light the "Paschal" or "Easter Candle." The Easter Candle is then used to rekindle all of the previously extinguished fires. Some churches then use the Easter Candle to kindle a bonfire in a nearby open space or on a mountaintop. In addition a wooden figure called the "Judas" may be thrown into the fire for a little more excitement. The tradition is believed to have originated in Germany and there are many events that are not connected to any church and are not religious. So if you happen to be in Deutschland, you can witness this spectacular event in multiple cities including; Liebenwalde, Lindow, Bad Liebenwerda, Werder, Altlandsberg, Hohennauen, Schwedt/Oder, Hamburg, Oderbruch, Bad Freienwald, Belzig, and Rheinsberg.

If you are more interested in an event that poses less risk, why not try an Easter Market? The Czech Republic has many fantastic Easter Markets. The most famous of these are the markets at The Old Town Square and at Wenceslas Square in Prague. The Prague Easter Markets are a mix of traditional customs and modern attractions including ample supplies of Czech beer and sausages. Graz in Austria is also a hotbed of Easter Market activity. There is the Easter Arts and Crafts Market at Hauptplaz, Crafts from all over the World at Tummelplaz, and The Easter Market on Franziskanerplatz.


If you would like to see how Easter is celebrated all over the world without actually having to fly all over the planet, Toronto, Canada is the best place to visit this Easter. The annual Easter Around The World event on Easter Sunday allows you to see around 15 different ethnic communities display a variety of Easter traditions. Expect the Greek, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Polish, Portuguese and Romanian communities to be among those who take part.

Still need more ideas for Easter? Visit now-in.org and find events in your country that are interesting to you!