ZANZIBAR: As I am enjoying an unusual Easter in Zanzibar, of all places, I am thinking fondly of what makes Easter special when you are little: the Easter bunny, colouring eggs and of course the thrill of the Easter egg hunt. But different countries of course know different traditions:
- In Norway it is customary not only to spend Easter in a ski cabin in the mountains but the entire country gets into a Paaskekrim or Easter Crime craze, reading or watching murder mysteries at Easter.
- In Finland, children go begging in the streets with sooty faces and scarves around their heads, carrying broomsticks, coffeepots and bunches of willow twigs.
- On the morning of Holy Saturday, the people on the Greek island of Corfu throw pots, pans and other earthenware out of their windows, smashing them on the street. It is believed to be a welcoming of spring.
- Poland has the Easter Monday custom of water fights. This began innocently by sprinkling young ladies with a bit of perfumed water and developed into regular water fights in the streets.
- Bermudians celebrate Good Friday by flying colorful, home-made kites and eating codfish cakes and hot cross buns.
Whatever tradition or custom you follow, I wish you all a Happy Easter!