Easter is a time for celebration, wether you partake in the religious festivities or opt to purchase a chocolate egg and call it a day. Many find Easter to be a holiday filled with new beginnings and hope, a sentiment mirrored as the spring season blooms. Although religious values vary throughout countries, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the much loved-holiday. With different countries from around the world having their own individual celebrations to mark the occasion, Northern Ireland Travel News have rounded up six getaways to embark on some Easter adventures.
Spain
Dating back to the sixteenth century, Seville in Spain has been home to countless Easter celebrations. With plenty of processions and pasos to mark the Easter week, travellers head from far and wide to embrace Seville’s annual tradition. Known as Seville’s main fiesta, masses take to the streets to perform and watch the processions that sets off from Campana Street before marking its conclusion at Seville’s main cathedral. Each parade is different with more than 58 organised parades over the course of Easter Week, taking place over both day and night.
While all of these parades are incredible to witness in their own right, the most-attended parade passing through Seville takes place in the early hours of Good Friday. At this parade, some of Seville’s most notable statues pass through the cobbled streets of Seville, carried on embellished floats. These statues include Jesús del Gran Poder, la Macarena, and elCristo de los Gitanos. An emotive experience, locals and travellers come out to pay religious respects to the passing statues all night and well into the following morning. However, even if travellers are not seeking to embrace the religious side of the processions, Easter Week in Seville is renowned for their display of art, colour and traditional music creating one of the most spectacular fiestas that Spain has to offer.
Fiestas aren’t the only thing to witness in Seville over the Easter break, home to range of vibrant tourist attractions. Travellers can embrace Spanish culture by partaking in Sangria tasting on the some of the most private rooftops in Seville, or stroll the historic streets and entries of Seville’s old town, catching glimpses of iconic monuments such as the Giralda Bell Tower and San Telmo Palace. Seville is a city rich with culture and history, which is renowned for it’s fabulous festivals that mark the beginning of Spring. Visiting at Easter-time means that travellers will even be able to witness the preparation for the Feria De Abril festival in which locals take to the streets in traditional dress, such as flamenco dresses and el traie corto suits. The festival is a flurry of lights and aromas, with market-stalls, bars and attractions preparing for the city-wide celebrations. Seville in the spring is an explosion of culture, making it a memorable get-away that invokes all the senses.
Italy
Easter is one of the most sought-after times to visit Florence, Italy. Undoubtedly, Italy is one of the most iconic places to celebrate the festivities with a cross being placed in the centre of the Colosseum, and Vatican City holding a religious ceremony annually which in which locals flock to mark the religious holiday. However, in Florence there is a more extravagant way to mark the occasion, the ‘Explosion of the Cart,’ is held every Easter Sunday at 10 in the morning. A tradition with origins spanning more than three hundred years, locals and visitors alike head out in droves to witness the scene. Annually, the cart, otherwise known as a ‘Brindellone’, is strategically placed between the Cathedral and Baptistery in Piazza Duomo.
Following the Cathedral’s easter mass, the Archbishop of Florence at the altar of the cathedral lights a rocket shaped like a dove, symbolising the Holy Spirit, which runs along a cable attached to the Brindellone. In the hopes that once the rocket hits the cart, fireworks will alight making for a spectacular show of colour and light. The event is grounded in traditions, with a superstition believing that if the rocket-shaped dove returns back the altar following connection with the cart, that it will be a positive year for Florentines and those who witness the celebration.
Over the Easter holidays, Italians love to spend time in the outdoors with a prominent focus on embracing the early spring sun. All of Florence’s famous gardens and landscapes remain open over the Easter weekend, with special openings to see the first buds of spring bloom. A favourite amongst locals include Boboli Gardens. The garden is host to a range of green architecture, with sculptures, fountains, and charming foliage and flowers surrounding guests at they enter. Providing inspiration for a range of royal greenscapes, Boboli gardens is otherwise known as the ‘Green Lung’ of Florence’s city.
Germany
Nowhere in Germany celebrates easter quite like Hamburg, a city which has seen a rising increase in tourism due to its’ cultural and commercial landscapes, along with the famous Port of Hamburg. To ring in the Easter long weekend, the city begins to overflow with decorations, street festivals, along with market stalls selling trinkets and traditional cuisine. It is a true feast of culture watching through the streets of Hamburg at Easter-time. To take in the sights and aromas of spring awakening, travellers can take a walk along the Alster, Hamburg’s second largest river. A prime tradition over the Easter long weekend is to grab a bite of brunch, with many restaurants and cafes offering an indulgent three-course brunch, which can be upgraded to a boozy occasion depending on which restaurant travellers choose!
Spring in Germany is the ideal time to visit Hamburg Dom, Hamburg’s famous funfair. While the funfair is closed on Good Friday, Hamburg Dom remains open over the Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, ramping up activities so that families, friends and solo travellers can make the most out of the amusement park. Spring is the prime time to visit the theme park, as they begin to host their Springtime-festival, which sees a range of new roller-coasters, sweet treat stalls, and fun houses for attendees to explore. With traditional German beer tents, serving steins of German beer, along with bratwurst and schmalzkuchen pastries. The spring season at Hamburg Dom lasts for the entire month of April, and is one of the biggest events in the funfair’s calendar. A truly interactive experience, those who attend Hamburg Dom over the Easter Weekend may even catch a glimpse of the Easter Bunny roaming around the grounds.
Belgium
Where could be better to celebrate Easter than the home of chocolate? Belgium offers travellers the perfect location to indulge in their sweet-tooth this spring. Bruges, Belgium is the ideal place to head out on a chocolate-themed getaway. Bruges offers travellers the opportunity to go on a beer and chocolate tour, a tour which allows travellers to see the top-sights and attractions of the city, all while trying some of the fabulous chocolate and beer that Belgium is renowned for. A guided tour around the choco-story museum means that tourists will learn all about the history of Belgian chocolate and see how it gets made. This tour isn’t without its perks though, as those who visit get the opportunity to sample the luxurious chocolate on their journey around the museum.
Bruges is a feast for all the senses. A beautiful city, travellers can enjoy the green surrounds and unique wind-mills that make up Bruges’ skyline. Situated on the hub of Bruges’city walls, a stroll along the windmills will allow travellers to see the expanse of the historic city.
Those who have a sweet-tooth will be ecstatic to learn about the range of cuisine on offer over the Belgian Easter break, favourites include waffles coated in Belgian chocolate, a range of chocolate truffles and sweets. If savoury is more your style, boiled asparagus along with ham and endive gratin is a popular festive easter dish, traditionally served with cheese and mash potato.
Finland
To celebrate the awaited arrival of spring, Finland embarks upon a nationwide celebration of Easter. A holiday filled with myths and legends, those who head to Finland are sure to experience a range of unique Easter festivities. Interestingly, witches play a massive role in Finland’s easter extravaganza as young children flock to the streets dressed as ‘Easter witches.’ A custom which takes place the weekend prior to Easter Sunday, the streets of Finland begin to fill with families accompanying their children on their ‘Easter Witch’ hunt or stalls selling Easter willow twigs, a tradition that is hinted to ward away evil spirits in return for treats. A vibrant celebration, an eccentric trip to Finland is sure to be a unique way to spend your easter holidays. Easter trinkets and festivities can be seen in the Senate Square.
Heading to Finland as the seasons change is the perfect time to spend enjoying the Finnish outdoors, on your travels why not enjoy a trip to Sibelius Park, where you can take a walk along the city’s waterfront while listening to the relaxing chimes of the Sibelius monument, dedicated to Jean Sibelius, a renowned composer. Or embark on a fitting attraction for the Easter Holidays, Finland’s Rock Church is an incredible sight. If attending a service isn’t quite on your itinerary for your trip to Finland, the church that is built directly into rock in the centre of Helinski, is definitely a must see attraction. To round up your travels, why not head to a Finnish bonfire night? Ignited on Holy Saturday, locals believe that these bonfires ward off evil spirits ahead of Easter Sunday.
Why not try some local easter delicacies? Traditional Easter dishes in Finland consists of Mämmi, a dark pudding made up of malted rye and rye flour often served with cream and sugar, and Pasha, a traditional dessert consisting of curd cheese, eggs, cream, sugar, and butter along with a range of nuts and dried fruits to taste the pudding.
Iceland
The Easter Holidays in Iceland is the perfect time to travel, while the religious festivities can result in closures of certain grocery stores and restaurants in Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík. The majority of attractions stay open for those seeking to learn more about Icelandic Culture. With Iceland having an extended Easter holiday season, a prime Easter tradition in Iceland is to head to the slopes, with the most attractive being Blafjoll Ski Resort. A much-loved tradition amongst locals, a day at the slopes is a grand way to celebrate Easter in Iceland.
Located just a half an hour away from Reykjavík, travellers staying in Iceland’s capital can enjoy a day-trip to the much-loved ski resort. Blafjoll is home to 14 lifts, with great ski slopes for downhill skiing and snowboarding, along with tracks for cross-country skiing also. Wanting to embrace Easter in Iceland without committing to a full ski-holiday? Day-passes to the resort are available for all ages, meaning travellers can spend a day exploring the scenery of Blafjoll.
One of the most iconic dishes served in Iceland over the course of the Easter holidays is roasted leg of lamb with sugar-glazed potatoes and gravy. Be sure to give it a try to gain the full experience of an Easter in Iceland.
