03 máj THE 4 MOST INTERESTING EASTER TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD

We, translators like to keep busy even during the holidays!

EASTER TRADITIONS ABROAD – SO MANY CUSTOMS

Do you also like the Easter holiday? This is a time when the entire world awakens and nature blossoms. There are countries where the time around Good Friday is celebrated with plates filled with ham, freshly grated horseradish and brown-crusted bread, followed by the traditional „sprinkling” ceremony on Eastern Monday morning with women getting chased by the male members of their families holding soda siphons in their hands in Hungary. But let us look at the strange and funny customs   and traditions enriching our foreign friends ‘and partners’ Easter holidays near and far, in different parts of the world. Are you also interested? Well then, let us take you on a trip!

WITH A PANCAKE PAN TO MASS – ENGLAND

Legend has it that once upon a time, an  Olney  housewife was so preoccupied with the pancake competition on Shrove Tuesday that she forgot all about going to Mass. Only when the bells started ringing did she realize that she should have left the cooking-stove behind, so she ran to the church as fast as she could, with the pancake pan in her hand. Thus, the good lady ended up creating a tradition, which has survived and the day has become known as Pancake Tuesday, with kids bringing pancakes to school or getting them for lunch.

At the dawn of Easter, parents wake up early to hide chocolate eggs and candies all over their gardens, to be hunted by children – usually in groups, while competing with one another – and those collecting the most eggs will claim the best prizes from their parents. One event, but many gifts . And smart English kids to boot.

 A SHEER CRIME – NORWAY

Easter is a popular holiday in Norway, as well, but not because of Easter braids or ladies happily „suffering” sprinkling with cologne purchased back in 1983. Not at all. Instead of or in addition to sprinkling and other egg-related activities, Norwegians read crime stories at Easter. This strange tradition started in 1923 when a book publisher released its latest crime short story on this very day on the title page of a newspaper. This ad was so successful that people did not notice the well-crafted sales trick, which eventually became a tradition in this Nordic country.

 ALWAYS LOOK BEHIND OUR BACKS! – CZECH REPUBLIC AND SLOVAKIA

When glancing across the border to witness Easter ceremonies at our northern neighbors we should celebrate with care because anything can happen if we let down our guard! This is because according to an Easter Monday custom, if a man playfully spanks a woman with his self-made whip (like the naughty gentlemen he is!) cut from spring’s first blooming willow trees, and decorated with colorful ribbons, his beloved lady will soon enjoy vitality and fertility. This charming game should not keep us from visiting the Czech Republic or Slovakia because we will be rewarded with a joyful celebration replete with food and drink in the vicinity of our home country.

THE GIANT OMELET DAY – FRANCE

Never leave home without your forks when visiting the southern French city of Haux around Easter. Speaking of the huge (meaning enormous, gigantic) omelet prepared by locals in the main city square, we specifically refer to the 4,500 eggs enjoyed by 1,000 people at a nice, leisurely pace during the holiday celebrations. The story is linked to Napoleon’s visit to the South of France when he stopped to have an omelet while passing through the town with his army. The emperor  liked  his egg dish so much that he ordered all eggs to be requisitioned from the townspeople to have a huge omelet prepared for his loyal soldiers the next day.

Holidays and traditions are of vital importance for us. Not only because we enjoy savoring our customary  moments but also because it is vital to be familiar with the culture and traditions of foreign countries in our translation activities. Without this, we would be unable to localize movie dialogues, transcreate  cookbook  recipes or globalize webpages. So what is involved in all this? Please check out our blog entries for the relevant details. Now, however, let us celebrate and enjoy our own Easter feasts in the company of our loved ones, inhaling the scents of baking Eastern braids, painting red eggs and waiting for men to „sprinkle” the ladies.

To all of our current and future partners, friends, acquaintances and those still not familiar with us, we wish a very happy Easter on behalf of our entire  H-Net Language Center team! And all this in each of our thirty-three languages!

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Written by: Eat, Move & Smile