Easter is an important festival across the Christian world. As such, there are plenty of special food traditions that are linked to the festivities.
But how does the UK compare to other countries across the world? Read on to find out.
Easter food traditions – UK
Sweet food dominates Easter in the UK. Hot cross buns are traditional favourites: these sweet, fruited buns feature a cross that symbolises the crucifixion of Jesus. But chocolate eggs are popular too. Families will have chocolate Easter eggs delivered for Easter Sunday while setting up scavenger hunts for the kids.
Easter food traditions – Fanesca – Ecuador
This soup is cultural heritage in Ecuador and carries plenty of Easter symbolism. For a start its ingredients come from all the regions of the country, symbolising the unity and strength of the Ecuadorian people. Plus, the 12 ingredients symbolise the 12 apostles of Jesus.
Easter food traditions – Le Gigot d ́Agneau Pascal – France
In France, Easter is often accompanied by red meats rather than fish. One of the most common dishes to celebrate Easter is Le Gigot d’Agneau Pascal – a lamb shank roasted and served with beans and potatoes. This meal symbolises Christ, the lamb of God, sacrificing himself for the world’s sins.
Easter food traditions – Pizza Chiena – Italy
In Naples, Pizza Chiena is the Easter meal of choice. Despite featuring the word pizza, this dish is more of a savoury pie, filled with eggs and cured meats. It’s usually prepared on the Friday and eaten on the Saturday.
Easter food traditions – Mämmi – Finland
In Finland, simple cold dishes are favoured over Easter. Mämmi is one example: this dessert takes four days to prepare and features rye flour, malt, molasses, water, salt and orange zest.
Easter food traditions – Polish Chalka
Chalka is another sweet Easter bread, this time enjoyed in Poland. A yeast dough of warm milk, butter, sugar, eggs, flour, and raisins is left to rise and then divided into three pieces to be braided. This creates a warm, generous loaf that everyone can share over Easter.
Easter food traditions – Neapolitan Grain Pie
Italy also enjoys sweet Easter dishes alongside Pizza Chiena – and the Neapolitan grain pie is one of the best examples. This is a ricotta cake that’s often flavoured with orange water. It’s a dish that’s a long time in the making: pre-soaked grain takes two weeks to reach the perfect flavour, while the cake itself will often take around 16 hours to prepare perfectly.
Easter is a time for reflection and relaxation as spring begins. And what better way to enjoy the festive period than by making luxurious food. Just pick any of the global favourites above, find a recipe online, and see if you can recreate one of these treasured dishes.