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The Most Spectacular Easter Celebrations in Europe

This article is more than 8 years old.

While Easter to many of us means gorging on chocolate, dyeing eggs and waiting on a bunny to bring us treats, Easter Week in many traditionally Christian European countries is a fascinating time to witness centuries-old traditions and large elaborate religious processions taking over city streets. Here are a few of the most elaborate and unusual celebrations.

1. Seville, Spain

All during Semana Santa (holy week which started yesterday on Palm Sunday), thousands flock to the streets to watch daily processions of brass bands, lavish candelit floats topped with Baroque artwork depicting the Easter story followed by hundreds of penitents from 70 different cofradias (church brotherhoods) marching. Penitents wear traditional penitential robes and capirotes (tall, pointed hoods with eye-holes designed so the faithful could repent in anonymity, without being recognised as self-confessed sinners.)

2. Florence, Italy

One of the most dramatic spectacles is the Scoppio del Carro (the explosion of the cart) in Florence. On Easter Sunday, a 30-foot tall antique cart dating back 500 years is hauled by a team of white oxen from Porta al Prato to the Piazza del Duomo and accompanied by 150 soldiers, musicians and revellers costumed in 15th century dress. The cart is loaded with fireworks and has a wire that stretches all the way to the altar inside the Duomo. After singing Gloria in excelsis Deo in Easter Mass, the archbishop lights a fuse inside a mechanical dove connected to the wire which speeds through the church and ignites the fireworks inside the cart for a 20-minute display that is supposed to guarantee a good harvest and good business for the upcoming year.

3. Prague, Czech Republic

The Prague Easter Market takes over the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square every day from March 21 to April 12. Wooden huts displaying handicrafts, puppets, dolls and hand-painted Easter eggs festoon the square. Visitors can get a personalized message hand-painted on their egg and sample local Czech specialties Trdelník, a sugar-coated pastry and klobása, a barbecued sausage. Czech children finish school on "Ugly Wednesday" and on "Green Thursday" boys walk through the town shaking wooden rattles, as tradition dictates, to wards off Judas. In preparation for Easter, boys hand-braid a whip of pussywillow and girls paint Easter eggs. On Easter Sunday, the boys visit each house in the village to whip the legs of each child for good health and in return the girls tie a ribbon around the whip and give them one of the painted eggs.  

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