The Easter holiday or Holy Week is a tradition in Christianity that celebrates the last days of the prophet Jesus. In all continents where there is a presence of the Christian religion, Easter is celebrated both in religious and cultural aspects with interesting and traditional particularities of each people and region. Have you ever stopped to think about the celebration of Easter in the Middle East? Are our famous Chocolate Eggs also part of the Egyptian Easter Sunday? Discover the Holy Week Traditions in Brazil and Egypt.
The religious celebration in Brazil
During Holy Week, Brazilian Catholic churches celebrate the last experiences of Jesus every day. In popular religiosity, it is recommended to fast from red meat on Ash Wednesday, on Good Friday, and in the forty days before Easter.
Traditionally, the celebration begins on Palm Sunday – remembering the entry of the prophet into the city of Jerusalem, on Monday the arrest of Jesus is remembered; on Holy Tuesday or Penance Day, the meeting of Mary and Jesus on the way to Calvary. on Holy Wednesday, the Office of Darkness due to the proximity of Jesus’ death; on Holy Thursday, there is the memory of the last gestures of the prophet at the last supper with the apostles, it is on this day that the Mass of washing the feet takes place; on Good Friday: The death of Jesus crucified; on Hallelujah Saturday, it celebrates the expectation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and on Easter Sunday, it celebrates his resurrection.
Traditions around Brazil
In addition to the religious celebration, in various parts of Brazil, the people keep the Easter customs and traditions alive. In the country’s hinterland, religious groups take walks saying prayers and songs, a ritual that arrived in Ceará in 1850. The strong expression of the popular jokers Caretas is celebrated in the city of Quixeló, the Caretas go out on the streets collecting donations for Judas’ workout. In Juazeiro do Norte, there is a tradition that came from Italy, which tries to cover all the images of saints with a cloth. In Nova Jerusalem, in the state of Pernambuco, there is the famous national staging of the Passion of Christ that takes place annually and has hundreds of extras and thousands of viewers.
In Canela, in the south of the country, lights and decorations take over the city, there are reenactments about the last days of Jesus and cultural performances. Also in the southern region, in the city of Gramado, there is the famous chocolate festival, in addition to religious and artistic celebrations.
In the city of Diamantina in Minas, on Easter Sunday, the windows are decorated with colorful towels and the streets are decorated with flowers, sawdust and sand. In Mariana, the procession of souls takes place, where all the faithful dress in white and take to the streets. In Ouro Preto, the faithful produce an extensive carpet of flowers for the procession of Christ’s resurrection.
In São Paulo, in the Catholic city of Aparecida, on Holy Friday, the walk of the cross takes place with the presence of thousands of faithful.
Traditional Easter Eggs
In Brazil, Holy Week is celebrated in all cities, the whole country enters the religious and commercial climate, as it is at this time that the traditional Easter eggs appear.
The origin of the egg as a symbol came long before Jesus. Considered a representative element of fertility and rebirth of life, eggs were part of the celebration of the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
Coincidentally, over the years the two celebrations were mixed, and the eggs came to be symbolized as the resurrection of Jesus.
Chicken eggs were painted and decorated in the Middle East, particularly Egypt. The chocolate egg, very famous in Brazil, appeared in the French confectionery in the 19th century. When emptying the chicken egg, it was filled with chocolate, the innovation ended up working and spreading to several places. At the same time, the egg hunt for children emerged. In Brazil, the tradition is to eat chocolate eggs on Easter Sunday.
Speaking of traditions, there is also another very present element, the “Easter Bunny”, the symbolism of the rabbit represents fertility, due to its rapid reproduction.
Holy Week Celebration in Egypt
In Egypt, the Christian predominance is Coptic. Copts celebrate Easter on the Sunday following the full moon following the vernal equinox (21 March). On Holy Saturday, the Easter Vigil takes place, known as The Great Vigil, which lasts until the beginning of Easter. They do a complete fast on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. On Easter Sunday they celebrate with feasts to break the fast. The food served is not unlike that consumed during the country’s two main Islamic holidays. In Egypt, it is customary to buy new clothes on this holiday, just as Muslims do during Eid after Ramadan .
Sham el Nessim
Following the celebration of Easter, there is Sham el Nessim which represents the beginning of spring. This holiday has been celebrated by all Egyptians since the time of the pharaohs. In this festival, fish like fesikh and renga are consumed, in addition to the traditional colored eggs.
Fesikh is a well salted and fermented fish, it has an extremely strong odor that resembles the odor of something rotten, and spoiled. Renga is also a salted fish but the odor is lighter than that of Fesikh. The Egyptians consume these fish accompanied by green onions, salad and lemon.
During the holiday, Egyptians love to travel to the beach with their family, or go out together for a walk and eat the typical dishes of the season.
Travel during Holy Week
If you want to get away from the routine and enjoy a different Holy Week, a trip to Egypt is the perfect choice, get into the atmosphere of the Egyptian spring celebrations with Sham el Nessim, see the colors sprouting everywhere. Leave Brazil for a new adventure, visit Cairo and its main attractions which are the Pyramids of Giza , highlighting the only one of the 7 wonders of the world that still stands, the Pyramid of Cheops; the Egyptian Museum which contains various artifacts from Ancient Egypt; Cairo’s oldest bazaar, Khan el Khalili , with its alleys and shops that will leave you enchanted.
Sail on the wonderful Nile River and experience spectacular moments in the south of the country between Luxor and Aswan, discovering the great historical monuments such as the Temple of Karnak, Temple of Luxor, Valley of the Kings that contains the tomb of the famous Tutankhamun, Colossi of Memnon, Temple of the Pharaoh Queen Hatshepsut, Temple of Philae dedicated to the goddess Isis, Temples of Abu Simbel built by Pharaoh Ramesses II and much more. And if you want to extend your trip, take advantage of a combined itinerary that will allow you to discover Jordan and Jerusalem , with their impressive attractions.
