Goodness, this year is marching ahead isn’t it? We’re almost three months in to 2016 already, and that means that Easter is almost upon us. It’s an early Easter festival this year – Easter Friday falls on March 25th, and Easter Sunday on the 27th.

Many of us look forward to the extended Easter weekend holidays, not only because it’s a great time for a long weekend away, but also because Easter is traditionally associated with indulgence, especially of the food variety. Chocolate, cakes, buns, beer and more – Easter is traditionally the time to break the fast after the long and austere six weeks of lent.

And although Britain’s Easter treats are pretty delicious – hot cross buns, simnel cake, mini eggs to name but a few – around the world, traditional Easter treats aren’t always so tempting………

• Italian Colomba di Pasqua – Italians celebrate Easter with a panettone style bread that is made in the shape of a dove!
• Danish Påskeøl – The Danish certainly know how to do it! A special beer is brewed at Easter that is stronger than usual brews. Cheers!
• Finnish Mammi –  This sweet dessert is made from water, flour and rye and sweetened with a tiny bit of dark molasses. Looks delicious….

Image from wikicommons

• Jewish Kulich – In the Jewish faith a Kulich is baked and eaten at Easter. This tall cake represents the rising of Christ and is usually blessed by the priest at the Easter service. 
• Greek Tsoureki – In Greece at Easter, a sweet brioche type bread is served. It’s often decorated with hard boiled eggs that have been dyed red – these symbolise the blood of Jesus.
• German Green Soup – In Germany, Maundy Thursday (the day before Good Friday) is known as Gründonnerstag, which literally translates into Green Thursday. Lots of green foods are eaten on this day – like green soups!
• Spanish Mona de Pascua – This sweet bread bun from Spain is another that is topped with hard boiled eggs – yum!
• Russian Pashka – in Russia, a solid pudding made of cheese, cream or milk is decorated with raisins, almonds and candied fruit. It’s usually made in a pyramid style and encompasses all the things that aren’t allowed during lent.
• French Omelette – in the town of Haux in southern France, a giant omelette is made to celebrate Easter. And it really is GIANT! It uses 4,500 eggs and is large enough to feed 1,000 people…. Here’s hoping they all like omelette….
• The British Hot Cross Bun –  No Easter would be complete without a delicious hot cross bun (or four….). These traditional Easter treats are designed to symbolise the cross of Christ and are made with a sweet dough decorated with a cross. Served with lots of butter, yum, yum!

Image by wiki commons

And of course, let’s not forget the chocolate!! The chocolate egg has become an international symbol of Easter. Decirated eggs were ong used to symbolise Easter for Christians across the world but the very first chocolate egg was made in Europe in the early 19th century.

So, if you ever needed an excuse to tuck into some chocolate, Easter is it! Enjoy 🙂