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Easter Around From palms to puddings, the ways Christians celebrate reflect both the World diversity and a common bond. In churches large and small, here and abroad, Here’s a look at a handful of traditions in other Christians celebrate in surprisingly parts of our world. different ways. Yet they all honor ’ sacrifice and promise of eternal life. And together, they weave a rich tapestry of religious and cultural BRAZIL traditions. In Ouro Preto, Brazil, residents In the U.S., as well as across the world, the create beautiful last week of —the week before Easter—is “carpets” of wood known as . Special services and shavings, flowers traditions this week may include: and other natural materials on a street : In some churches, palms are that connects two carried and may be shaped into crosses on this churches. On Easter Sunday, some day, one week before Easter, to commemorate people dress as ithe day Jesus returned to Jerusalem. Bible characters and angels and join a : On this day, Christians down the remember the when Jesus decorated route.1 celebrated his last Passover with his disciples. Many churches strip their altar, symbolizing Jesus being stripped of his garments as he awaited trial.

GOOD FRIDAY: Christians commemorate Jesus’ crucifixion on this day, with many gathering in churches around noon to remember the hour when He died on the cross.

HOLY SATURDAY: On the first , Jesus’ disciples mourned his death. Today, many Christians gather for an at night. Historically, Christians were baptized on this day.

EASTER SUNDAY: Many people attend MEXICO sunrise services on this day that marks the Capirotada, a bread pudding traditionally served at Easter, . Churches may be features symbolic ingredients. The bread represents the body decorated with white lilies, which grew in the of Christ, cinnamon sticks evoke the wood of the cross, cloves Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed. represent the nails and cheese stands in for the holy shroud.2

Thrivent.com POLAND Families in Poland bring “blessing baskets” filled with colored eggs, bread and other foods to church to be blessed. The tradition signals that Lent is over.6 FRANCE Church bells fall silent on , representing the grief of Jesus’ crucifixion. According to tradition, the bells fly to Rome to be blessed by the pope. They return to France on Easter Sunday, where they ring again in celebration of the Resurrection.3

ENGLAND A fruit cake topped with marzipan, called simnel cake, is a traditional Easter dessert. Eleven balls of marzipan decorating the cake LEBANON represent the faithful apostles.4 Many Lebanese Christians give up meat, sugar and dairy during Lent to honor the sacrifices Jesus made. When Lent ends after 40 days, they treat themselves to a traditional shortbread cookie stuffed with dates or nuts, called maamoul.7 GREECE Christians in Greece dye all Easter eggs red. The color represents the blood Jesus shed on the cross, and the eggs symbolize the tomb from which He rose from the dead.5 1 “In Pictures: Easter Sunday,” March 31, 2013, BBC 2 “Mexican Pudding With a Long Culinary Lineage,” April 4, 2017, Chicago Tribune 3 “French , Vocabulary and Ideas for Celebrating in Paris,” Jan 4, 2015, French as You Like It 4 “The Dark Side of Easter: Foods Named for Judas Offer Taste of Treachery,” April 13, 2017, NPR 5 “Why Do Greeks Dye Easter Eggs Red and How to Do It,” April 7, 2015, Greek Reporter 6 “9 Fascinating Easter Traditions From Around the World,” Reader’s Digest 7 “Maamoul: An Ancient Cookie That Ushers in Easter and Eid in the Middle East,” April 11, 2017, NPR

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