Easter traditions from around the world

This year on Sunday the 21st of April, Catholics around the world will celebrate Easter. Here are just some of the many traditions that take place globally to mark Easter.

The Vatican

In Rome and beyond, all eyes will be on the Vatican. Pope Francis will hold Easter Sunday mass at 10:15am (a free but ticketed event) at St. Peter's Square which can accommodate up to 80,000 people and is expected to be filled to capacity. Pope Francis will also conduct a papal address and blessing on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at midday. This Urbi et Orbi is free and unticketed, but only those who arrive early will have the chance to receive a blessing. This year, the Square will be decorated with thousands of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and other flowers with predominant colors being white and yellow to represent new life and light. This will be arranged by Holland's Bloemenbureau, the Dutch national flower society, who have overseen the Vatican's Easter flower displays every year since 1986.

Spain

Semanta Santa (Holy Week) is one of the biggest events on Spain's religious calendar. Locals across the country flock to the streets to watch processions of large, colourful floats decorated with religious statues, artefacts, flowers and candles, re-enactments of the Passion and bands playing religious music. Behind each of the floats – many of which belong to cofradias (historic church brotherhoods) – walk hundreds of nazarenos (hooded and cloaked penitents) seeking anonymity in their penance.

Norway

Snow, chocolate eggs and – perhaps more surprisingly – crime novels are central to celebrating Easter in Norway. Påskekrimmen (Easter thrillers) are extremely popular with Norwegian publishers releasing a range of crime novels in the lead up to and during Easter. Radio stations, TV and newspapers are also known to showcase crime thrillers in the same period.

It's believed the crime thriller tradition was spawned by a publicity stunt gone wrong in 1923. Back then Easter was an unconventional time to release a new book. Nonetheless, the publisher of the crime novel called The Train To Bergen Was Robbed Last Night, released the book and took out advertisements that looked like news stories on the front page of Norwegian newspapers to promote it. Many readers took the story to be true, later spawning other publishers to follow suit from which the niche Easter thriller genre grew.

Indonesia

Recreations of Christ's crucifixion are a common part of Easter celebrations in Indonesia. As part of religious processions, young men – who consider it an honour to be chosen to represent Jesus – are tied to crosses to symbolise his death.

Germany

Trees are decorated in Germany with embellished Easter eggs called Ostereierbaum (also known as Easter Eggs Trees). This is also a custom in Hungary, Austria, Ukraine, Moravia, Poland and the Czech Republic.