A journey through the traditions of five countries

1. Ukraine

Home country of one of the largest foreign communities in Portugal, Ukraine – especially its western part – celebrates the Orthodox Easter with the colorful ones pesankas, hand decorated chicken eggs. According to tradition, these small works of art symbolize the life and resurrection of Christ. “In my family we always did pesankas at home. First we emptied the eggs and then made a hole with a needle at each end. Then, we blew the liquid out and painted them”, explains the production assistant Iuliia Myskiv. One of the colors was obtained through the skins of cooked onions. Currently, pragmatism reigns. “We bought stickers for the egg”, confesses the Ukrainian citizen who has lived in Portugal for 14 years.

Despite being far from her country, Iuliia did not abandon her traditions. Every year, she takes a food basket under a rushnekê [toalha bordada com dizeres alusivos à época] to be blessed at Easter mass. “There is paska [o tradicional bolo da Páscoa]fresh cheese, smoked bacon, chorizo ​​or other meat, salt, pesankasbutter, krin (horseradish) and water. We didn’t have dinner when we got home. We consumed it for breakfast the next day. We eat sanctified foods on an empty stomach so that God can be with us,” he says.

Iuliia, who was born in Lviv, explains that many adults in her region stop eating dairy products, eggs and meat from any animal seven weeks before Easter. However, “children start a week later, as it is more difficult for them”.

2. Ecuador

In this small Latin American country with a special place in geography books, Easter is celebrated with fervor and devotion. Many people participate in processions, special masses and other religious activities. One of the best-known manifestations is the procession of Jesus of Great Power, which takes place in Quito, during Holy Week. On Good Friday, Ecuadorians and visiting foreigners take to the city’s streets on a route that runs through much of the historic center (one of the best preserved in South America).

You Cucuruchos are the main characters of this pilgrimage. With a cone-shaped purple hood, this folkloric figure symbolizes the penitents who show repentance and a willingness to begin a sin-free life. There is also the procession of Christ of Consuelo, in Guayaquil. “[Aí, a procissão] It starts in the suburbs and more than a million people participate”, says the Ecuadorian student Christopher Torressix months ago in Lisbon.

At this time of year, the most consumed dish is fanesca, a fish soup with 12 different grains: “The recipe includes cod with milk, corn, flour, lentils, boiled egg, fried banana… It’s something quite heavy”, explains Christopher. Because of the unusual mixture, the name of the dish even became an expression in Ecuador. “We use the word to suggest that something is in chaos. For example, ‘your room is a mess’”, he explains.

3. Angola

Mostly Christian, the African country celebrates Easter in the so-called Rainy Season, with the holiday being celebrated with the family with a big lunch on Sunday. Before, as in Portugal, rituals such as the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the Way of the Cross and the Easter Vigil are noted.

On Good Friday, for example, Angolan Catholics avoid eating meat and prepare fish-based dishesas the Angolan woman explains Victoria dos Santos. “We really like to celebrate with friends, maintaining traditions”, tells us this hotel receptionist who has lived in Lisbon for five years. The main meal includes PeruO Easter feastwith different fillings, and the famous goat stew, a The dish contains peppers, onions, parsley and gindungo (Angolan pepper similar to piri-piri).

4. Brazil

Considered the country with the largest Catholic population in the world, Brazil celebrates Easter in different ways, depending on the region. They follow from north to south reenactments of the Passion of Christ and other processions, but it is in New Jerusalem, in the countryside of Pernambuco, northeast, which is the best known. Based in the municipality of Brejo da Madre de Deus, the largest open-air theater in the world, according to the Guinness Book, presents a version full of special effects and features renowned actors from television and theater. At Bahiain turn, the main tradition is the Fogaréu Procession, which has almost a hundred years of history. On Good Friday in the Northeast, the most traditional dishes are steamed pumpkin (pumpkin puree), coconut rice and coconut beans.

In southeastern Brazil, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo maintain the tradition of “working out Judas Iscariot”, a custom that was adopted by the Portuguese (who call it “Queima do Judas”) and occurs in the suburban neighborhoods of cities. Already in Minas Geraisseveral carpets of flowers made from sawdust cover the three kilometers of the Easter Sunday procession.

In the south of the country, under Ukrainian and German influence, there are pesankaspaska, sausage and smoked meat to try at this point. The plate of cod, inspired by Portuguese culture, appears in all regions of Brazil. And no Easter will be complete without the chocolate eggs – there are more than 50 different flavors, from pistachio to açaí, in different sizes and formats.

5. India

A large part of India’s population follows the Hinduismbut during the Easter period a very popular event takes place: the Holi Festival. The holiday celebrates the beginning of Spring. In this great festival, Indians come together to dance, play instruments and throw powders and paints of the most diverse colors at each other. The most popular dish on this occasion is gujiya, a type of pastry filled with fruits, nuts and seasoned with cardamom. There is still the bhangone milk shake Hindu made from cannabis and milk. “It is a festive day to let go of past mistakes and forgive. Holi It also means the triumph of good over evil, [e nesta data] people abandon negative energies to start again”, explains the Indian Suraj Iyer.

However, as Christianity is the third most professed religion in your country, especially in states of Bombay, Goa, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Nagaland, it is natural that the celebration of Easter – coinciding with that of the Julian calendar – is also guided by various rituals, including the exchange of gifts and blessings, the decoration of churches and the purchase of Easter eggs for children. In India, Good Friday is a public holiday in several states and banks are closed (except in six states).

Returning to Portugal and the Indians who live here in the country since 2022, Suraj says he has a special affection for Easter. At this time of year, he meets friends, most of whom are immigrants, for a hearty lunch. The menu varies: there are vegetarian and meat dishes. The Indian has also had the opportunity to participate in a typical Portuguese supper. “It was relaxed and a casual dining experience,” he recalls.