Easter around the world

Australia
The main day of celebration of families of Anglo-Irish backgrounds is Easter Sunday. Some people go to church services and have hot cross buns for breakfast. These are a sweet fruit bun, which may have a cross on top. Children exchange Easter eggs, which are usually made of chocolate. Some are now made from sugar and have little toys inside. The chocolate eggs are available in an egg shape, from tiny little ones to giant ones. Some chocolate eggs are also in the shape of cheeky looking rabbits. In recent years Easter bilbies have also been made. The bilby is a native animal in Australia. It is an endangered species. Chocolate manufacturers decided to make Easter bilbies and give some of their profits to help protect these animals from extinction. Children don't worry about the shape. They just love the chocolate! Many families arrange for an Easter hunt in their homes or gardens to see who can find the most eggs on Easter Sunday morning. They then share a meal with their relatives. Traditionally this has consisted of roast lamb, beef or chicken with roasted vegetables like potatoes, carrots, pumpkin


England:
Easter is celebrated by exchange of Easter Eggs and other nifty gifts. Gift range may vary from anything between money, clothes, chocolate or go on holidays together. Some people make Easter bonnets or baskets, which have things like daffodils in them or mini eggs. Children sometimes go to a local community center to enter an Easter bonnet competition to see whose bonnet is the best and the winner gets an Easter egg.The Easter bunny is very much a part of the Easter tradition in England. The shops are filled with thousands which people buy to give to each other. The Easter bunny 'hides' the eggs in the houses and children on Easter Sunday search to find these treats.
Hot-cross buns are popular foods on Good Friday. These are sweet fruit buns with crosses on top. Some people still make these with yeast, but shops now sell dozens in the week before Easter.




France
The French call it Paques.The main celebration sets off on Good Friday with a solemn note. Church bells do not ring for three days starting from Good Friday till the Easter Sunday. This is a token of mourning for the crucified Christ. Early on Easter morning the children rush into the garden to watch the bells "Fly back from Rome". As the small folk scan the sky for a glimpse of the returning bells their elders hide chocolate eggs.



Italy
Italians call it La Pasqua.The Easter is celebrated with a real big feast in this Mediterranean country. The Paschal feast is celebrated with Agnellino, Italy's special popular dish for the Easter. This is a roasted baby lamb. Children enjoy a rich bread made specially for the Easter. It is shaped like a crown and studded with colored Easter egg candies.



Germany
The German call it Ostern, possibly by the name of the Anglo Saxon goddess of spring, Eostre. School children have about three weeks holiday at Easter. No one works on Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday. Many people eat fish on Good Friday and on Easter Saturday evening there is often a big Easter bonfire. This is very popular and lots of people gather to watch. These Easter fires are burnt as symbols of the end of the winter and any bad feelings.On Easter Sunday families have nice breakfasts together. Parents then hide Easter baskets with sweets, eggs and small presents. Hand-painted eggs decorated with traditional designs are exchanged among friends. Earlier, it was customary in many regions for the village girls to present their suitors with a red egg. Many eat fish on Good Friday.



The Netherlands
The Dutch call it Pasen or Pasen Zontag.Throughout the country Easter is celebrated as a great spring holiday. People lay tables for Easter dinner with charming decoration of colored eggs and early flowers. Sweet bread stuffed with raisins and currant, is one of the favorite dishes of the Easter feast.



Sweden
The Swedish call it Påskdagen.Throughout the country the egg, symbol of life and resurrection, is featured in all Easter food and Easter games. Every household has egg coloring parties. Egg rolling contests are the favorite Easter activity of younger boys and girls.Palm Sunday is observed with palm fronds. The Easter Eve is celebrated with bonfires. Shooting of fireworks lives on as the tradition.





Easter Recipes

BRAIDED EASTER BREAD
Ingredients :
Serving this classic bread on Easter is a wonderful way to start an annual tradition.
2 pkgs. dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 tsp. salt
5 cups all-purpose flour
6 soft-boiled, dyed eggs (nontoxic dyes only)
1 egg
1 tsp. water

Preparation :
In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a saucepan, add the milk and heat until just warm. Pour the mixture into the bowl with the yeast. Add the sugar, eggs and salt, and stir well. Mix in the flour, one cup at a time, until a soft dough is formed. Turn the dough onto a floured surface, adding flour if the dough is too sticky to handle. Knead until it becomes elastic. Place it in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and set in a warm, draft-free area until doubled in size (about 1 hour). Punch down the dough. Divide it into three equal parts and roll each piece into a 20-inch-long strand. Lay the strands side by side and gently braid them. (To avoid tearing the dough, braid from the middle out to an end; repeat with the other side.) Place the woven dough in a wreath shape on a greased cookie sheet, tucking the ends under. Sink the eggs into the dough. Cover and let rise until double in size. Beat 1 egg with 1 teaspoon water and brush the wash over the dough. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
 

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EASTER BASKETS AND BUNNIES CUPCAKES:
Prep Time: 45 min. Start to Finish: 2 Hrs. 5 min.
Ingredients :
2 cups sugar
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa or HERSHEY'S Dutch
Processed Cocoa
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
CREAMY VANILLA FROSTING (recipe given above) 3-3/4 cups (10-oz. pkg.) MOUNDS Sweetened Coconut Flakes, (tinted) * Suggested garnishes (marshmallows, HERSHEY'S MINI KISSES Chocolate, licorice, jelly beans)
 

Preparation :
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line muffin cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups. 2. In large bowl, stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of electric mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Fill muffin cups 2/3 full with batter. 3. Bake 22 to 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely. Prepare CREAMY VANILLA FROSTING; frost cupcakes. Immediately press desired color tinted coconut onto each cupcake. Garnish as desired to resemble Easter basket or bunny. About 33 cupcakes.
 

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BUNNY CAKE
Ingredients :
cake mix; baked to form two circular cakes
frosting
Licorice for whiskers; M&M's for decoration
 

Preparation :
You have two circular cakes, as though each would normally be one layer of a birthday cake. One is the head. The other is used the make ears and a bow tie. Cut the two ears out of either side of the circular cake, and then the center becomes a bow tie. Assemble the pieces, put frosting on it, and decorate it, making a face on it, etc. Use white frosting for most of it, and pink frosting for the center of the ears. Use licorice for whiskers, and put M&Ms all over the bow tie.



Easter Crafts

This Easter egg is made of gum paste. It is easier to make. And it may be filled with home-made sweets, chocolates and candies.
You can also use it as a container for a small gift, such as a folded and wrapped tie, or a brooch.

What you need:

An egg mold
(preferably a metal one)*
gum paste
a child-safe scalpel or knife


Color the gum paste as required. Then roll it out and smooth it into a well-polished smooth Easter egg mold.

Work the paste into the mold slowly. Use the knife or scalpel to trim the uneven edge level.

Make two and leave to dry overnight.

Join the two halves with small blobs of royal icing and allow to set. Trim the join carefully.

Alternatively a long fine braid of the paste may be made and used to cover the join.

Mold the soft braid around the egg, sticking it in place with an occasional blob of icing. Make a neat join at the bottom of the egg.

The egg may be glazed with confectioners varnish to give it a hard shiny finish.

* You can find egg molds at any standard kitchen supplier, craft store or a party supplier.
 

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Eggshell Mosaic
A great way to use up the remains of the Easter eggs. Children will love breaking up the eggshells.

Materials:
Colored eggshells
construction paper
crayon, pen or marker
glue

On a piece of paper have child draw a simple design (e.g. flower, balloon, kite, egg). Spread glue in design area. Sprinkle bits of broken eggshells onto glue. Allow to dry then hang and enjoy.