Easter is one of the most important Christian festivals celebrated all around
the world with great zeal and enthusiasm. This day is celebrated as one of the
most holy day of the Christian calendar as it was the day of resurrection of
Jesus Christ after crucifixion. This day is said to be one of the most pious
occasions in the Christian community. Though the celebration of Easter is very
much similar throughout the world, there are few region specific rituals that
make it slightly different.
Easter in Netherlands is very much like the rest of the western countries.
However one remarkable Easter tradition in Netherland is the Easter Carnival.
Easter in Netherland is marked by carnivals that proceed the fasting season of
Lent. Preparations for the carnivals begin the previous year on 11th day of the
11th month, when a council of 11 meets to fine-tune the carnival plans.
Carnivals feature colorful celebrations with dances, parades and masquerade
balls. In each town a person is elected prince of the Carnival and he is handed
the keys to the city.
On the Easter Sunday the city is very quiet and people are busy with the Church
service (paasvuren) right from morning. Late in the noon, the Easter lunch is
organized in the church that include boiled, poached or fried eggs; paasstol (a
rich loaf of bread filled with raisins, nuts and marzipan); butter flavored with
herbs; ham; shrimps; smoked fish, particularly salmon or eel; and sweets or
chocolates in the shape of eggs or hares. Lamb is an exclusive Easter dish as it
is symbolic of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
On Palm Zondag or Palm Sunday children scour the neighboring farms to collect
eggs for the Easter sports. While setting out for the task, kids carry a
decorated stick known as a Palmpaas or Easter "palm". This stick is attached to
a hoop which is covered with boxwood and adorned with colored paper flags, egg
shells, sugar rings, oranges, raisins, figs and baked dough figures or swans or
cocks. They also participate in the coloring of real eggs which are hidden by
the Easter Bunny. Hunting for that was then carried out with great vigor.
Eiertikken, is also a popular Easter game in Netherland in which people knock
eggs together to see which breaks first.
In the eastern regions of the Netherlands, village folks light an Easter bonfire
on some hill or high point. In order to gain a head start, people start
collecting wood for the fires weeks in advance as each area tries to outdo each
other by building the biggest bonfire. On Easter Sunday, families gather for the
traditional Easter meal. The table is decorated with colored eggs and spring
flowers and Paasbrood, which is sweet bread with raisins and currants, is one of
the special foods traditionally served at Easter.
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