Easter started off as a celebration of the resurrection of Christ, but by now most of us mark the occasion with chocolate and bunnies. According to the Bible, Easter Sunday was the day Jesus Christ rose again after being crucified for humanity’s sins. The religious origins are still acknowledged by people all over the world, but like Christmas, Easter has been combined with Pagan celebrations and Western commercialism.

For most of us in North America, Easter brings egg hunts, sugary treats and baskets filled with plastic grass. How do people in other parts of the world celebrate Easter?

Belgium

One Easter tradition particular to Belgium is “Stille Zaterdag” or “Silent Saturday.” The day before Easter, it is said that the bells of Rome bring the Easter Bunny his eggs. Because the bells have all “left for Rome” there are no bells rung in Belgian churches that Saturday.

Norway

Norwegians spend their Easter holidays skiing in the mountains and painting Easter eggs.  It is also a tradition in Norway to solve murders during Easter. Books, newspapers and television channels feature murder mysteries and even the milk cartons have murder stories on their sides. It is thought that this custom of crime solving stemmed from the violent nature of Christ’s death.