Easter is a globally celebrated festival - but how exactly is Easter celebrated around the world? Here you will find everything you need to know about Easter customs around the world.

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Every year in March or April, children in Germany look for Easter eggs, often accompanied by Easter breakfasts and Easter fires.

Easter is celebrated in most European countries as well as in North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and also in Egypt, Ethiopia and South Africa.

As a Christian holiday, however, it is not a public holiday everywhere - Good Friday and Easter Monday are work-free in some countries and only recognized regionally or by the church in others.

In non-Christian countries such as China or Saudi Arabia, Easter hardly plays a role, but is becoming increasingly commercialized due to globalization.

You can find out how Easter is celebrated in different countries here.

Whether of religious origin or not - among all the traditions around the world, there are some exotic customs that seem simply absurd to outsiders.

From the weird to the brutal: the following are some of the most bizarre Easter traditions worldwide.

Reading tip: You are well prepared for Easter - at least in theory - with the separate article on the Easter holidays and their significance .

As in many places, many Christians in Ireland also fast according to tradition. While meat was abstained from for 40 days, fish was allowed and herring was an important food. As soon as meat is allowed to be eaten again at Easter, the Irish celebrate this by literally carrying the herring to its grave.

This herring burial is often carried out by butchers who were particularly looking forward to the end of Lent.

If you spend Easter in Poland, you may witness the custom of "Śmigus-Dyngus". This is a water fight on Easter Monday, or Wet Monday.

On this day, people - especially women - are splashed with water by men. Originally, the tradition seems to have been a fertility ritual. Today, the water fight is mainly seen as a fun tradition among young people.

Incidentally, the otherwise religious Easter celebrations in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus and Guatemala are similar.

In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, women are also traditionally beaten gently on the legs with braided willow rods on Easter Monday.

This custom is meant to be playful and not violent and is said to bring fertility and health to women.

The men are then thanked with Easter eggs and schnapps.

Easter is also celebrated with a crazy custom in Greece - at least in Vrontados on the island of Chios. Every year on the night of Orthodox Easter Sunday, a real spectacle takes place between two rival churches.

The churches, which are around 400 meters apart, aim a total of up to 60,000 homemade rockets across the valley at the bell of the opposing church tower.

Numerous onlookers gather to watch the ritual rocket war.

By the way: Easter in Greece, Russia, Serbia or Ukraine, for example, is later than Easter in Germany, as Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar instead of the Gregorian calendar.

Every year on Good Friday, the most important religious festival, some people in the Philippines allow themselves to be nailed to a cross for several minutes. Others beat their backs bloody with whips.

They do this to commemorate the suffering and death of Christ.

The ritual is mainly performed in the village of San Pedro Cutud, around 60 kilometers outside of Manila, and is attended by onlookers.

Another custom of the Filipinos is to grab their children by the head when the church bells ring on Easter Sunday and hold them up so that they grow better.

Let's take a look at Easter traditions in other countries. For example, what is Easter like in Italy, France and other countries?

Easter in France ("Pâques") is celebrated in the same way as in Germany, with a family Easter dinner, chocolate and its own customs. However, there is no Easter bunny there.

Who brings the Easter eggs in France?

As in many other countries, church bells are not rung in France from Maundy Thursday to Holy Saturday. According to tradition, they are supposed to be on their way to the Pope in Rome on these days. They return in time for Easter Sunday, bringing Easter eggs with them. Then you can hear them ringing again.

Easter custom

In addition to the egg hunt, throwing eggs into the air is an Easter custom in France. The first egg to break is the loser. In other variants, however, people try to keep the egg in the air for as long as possible.

Does France have public holidays at Easter?

Easter Monday is a public holiday. Good Friday is only free in Alsace and partly in Lorraine.

"Pasqua", Easter in Italy, is also celebrated with a family meal and religious ceremonies such as a procession. The papal mass in St. Peter's Square in Rome and the "Scoppio del Carro", a procession in Florence in which a float with fireworks is set alight, are particularly noteworthy in this regard.

Is the Easter bunny coming to Italy?

The Easter bunny and an Easter egg hunt are not part of the tradition. Instead, huge chocolate eggs are given as gifts, which are artfully decorated and filled with other surprises.

Are there public holidays at Easter in Italy?

Unlike Good Friday, Easter Monday is a public holiday in Italy.

The American Easter celebration is similar to the German one. In addition to an Easter breakfast with the family, an egg hunt is also a must for them. It is also customary to attend a church service on Easter Sunday.

The Easter parade on 5th Avenue in New York City is also a highlight.

Are there Easter holidays in the USA?

Apart from a few states where Good Friday is an official holiday, there are no public holidays at Easter in the USA.

The Finnish tradition, where children dress up as little witches ("Trullis") at Easter and paint their faces, then go from door to door exchanging sayings and willow branches for sweets, is a little more unusual and popular for us. This custom is also practiced at Easter in Sweden.

Another custom is an Easter bonfire, which is used to drive away evil spirits.

Mämmi is also part of Easter in Finland. This is a sweet rye pudding that is often eaten with cream or milk and sugar.

Is Easter a public holiday in Finland?

Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday are all public holidays in Finland.

Easter in Mexico hardly resembles our holidays either. The "Semana Santa" (Holy Week) is a vacation week for many. In addition to schools, many stores, doctors' surgeries etc. are also closed. However, only Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are public holidays.

They are celebrated with religious processions and passion plays instead of egg hunts.

In Iztapalapa, up to two million onlookers watch the largest re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus live on site, while others watch from home.

Another custom is the breaking of cascarones on friends. These are colorful, hollowed-out eggshells filled with confetti.

We have already learned about some country-specific traditions and customs. What other Easter customs are there? Here are some more exciting fun facts about Easter around the world.

1st fun fact: In Australia there are no Easter bunnies, but Easter bilbies: Rabbits are a plague in Australia. The rabbit-nosed boobies, on the other hand, are endangered.

2nd fun fact: Easter thrillers are as typical in Norway as egg hunts are for us. Scandinavians traditionally read or watch suspenseful stories at Easter.

3rd fun fact: Every year on Easter Monday, an egg roll takes place at the White House. The incumbent president and his wife have been inviting selected children from all over the country to take part in the race for almost 150 years.

4th fun fact: The largest chocolate Easter egg in the world was found in Cortenuove (Italy) in 2011. It was 10.39 meters high and weighed 7200 kilograms. At its widest point, it had a circumference of 19.6 meters.

By the way: Test your knowledge with more exciting questions about Easter in our Easter quiz.

Whether traditional processions, fun egg competitions or spectacular fireworks displays - Easter is celebrated in unique ways around the world. Which Easter tradition do you like best?