There’s more to easter than chocolate eggs, especially if you decide to leave the UK for a week or two and travel to somewhere else in Europe. Easter is celebrated differently all over the continent, and the following three cities all have unique celebrations and events which you won’t be able to find anywhere else.
DSC04269 © by gthills
1. Seville, Spain
The Easter celebrations in Seville are known all over the world. Here, Easter is the most important time of the year, and the celebrations last for the entire Holy Week, or ‘Semana Santa’ as it is known locally.
The celebrations involve numerous processions of ‘pasos’, which are floats of sculptures created from wood and depicting scenes from the Passion. Members of different religious brotherhoods go on their own processions, dressed in striking robes and hoods, all heading towards the cathedral, and the spectacle attracts large crowds from far and wide.
There are about 60 processions in total, and the best take place on Holy Thursday, which is the day before Good Friday.
2. Florence, Italy
Florence is where the famous ‘Scoppio del Carro’ takes place, which translates roughly as the ‘explosion of the cart’.
You won’t find another Easter celebration quite like this one, and it has become a major spectacle in the city over the years.
It involves a huge decorated wagon being dragged by white oxen through the city all the way up to the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore which is located in the city centre. Following the mass, the cart is then exploded, setting off a huge firework display.
As if this wasn’t enough, the explosion is followed up by a parade where the locals dress up in medieval clothing to provide one of the most exciting Easter celebrations you’ll find anywhere in Europe.
3. Nicosia, Cyprus
The Cypriots know how to throw a party, and if you head to the capital of Cyprus you’ll be able to take part in all manner of celebrations, most of which involve eating large quantities of food.
The fun starts weeks before Easter in the lead up to Lent, usually sometime in February. There is a carnival, dressing up in costumes and lots of festivities as the locals prepare for their lengthy fast.
The first week is focused on meat, where people essentially eat as much as they can, and then this is followed by a week focused on cheese. After this, the fasting begins until Easter arrives and the eating begins once again.
You’ll find plenty of tasty treats to eat here, including the square pastry ‘flaounes’ and the sweet ‘tsoureki’ which are typically eaten on Easter Day. Many people also enjoy a ‘souvla’ on Easter Day, which is a type of barbecue.
Do Something Different this Easter
If you want to escape the UK this Easter and enjoy something completely different then the above three cities could provide you with the perfect holiday. Not only will you be able to enjoy these fun celebrations, but you’ll also have a great holiday as they are all top locations at any time of the year.
