Easter Traditions From Around Europe
February 11, 2016
You may have visited Christmas markets in the winter but, have you ever thought about attending Easter markets during the spring? There are a multitude of Easter markets all over Europe selling beautiful handmade crafts and delicious sweet treats between March and April.
Here are four different Easter markets around Europe we recommend visiting this spring.
Nestled inside France's wine region of Alsace is the idyllic city of Colmar, filled with narrow cobbled streets lined by renaissance-style buildings. When spring comes along, the weather starts to warm up, and the locals celebrate through two Easter markets spread out along the lanes.
The first is in Place des Dominicans and the other only a 5 minute walk away in Place de l'Ancienne Douane. You'll find yourself surrounded by colour, whether it be crafts like homemade jewellery and children's toys or food like chocolate eggs and rabbits.
Browse over 60 different stalls selling their best works, with pleasant music playing in the background. Keep an eye out for detailed painted eggs, multi-coloured textile creations and ceramic art that make ideal souvenirs for your trip.
As flowers bloom all around southern Poland, Krakow's Rynek Glowny Grand Square holds the city's annual Easter market, between 7th and 19th April 2020. During this 12-day-period, a handful of events are organised, including a parade and live performance on Palm Sunday.
While wandering around, you can indulge in tasty native treats and sip on refreshing drinks. Folk music plays as you browse locally made products like hand-painted egg decorations. Eggs play a large part in Poland's Easter festivities, so why not purchase a wooden or ceramic, brightly-coloured decoration?
Yet another traditional symbol is the lamb which you can purchase in an edible form of pastry or sugar. If you feel you want more, gingerbread biscuits, exquisite chocolates and sandwiches made up of farmhouse loaves, regional cheese and cured meats are also available.
Over the Easter weekend, Prague organises several Easter markets, the largest in the Old Town Square only a short walk from the iconic Charles Bridge. Wooden huts line the plaza with fragrant flowers on top and pastel motifs painted on the front. Behind the stalls are blossoming trees, colourful ribbons tied to their branches that dance in the calm breeze.
Over the market's three-week opening period, vendors sell delicately painted eggs and Czech Republican food, while traditional dances and beer samplings go on. Look forward to seeing and tasting hams roasted on spits, barbequed sausages, and sweet and savoury deep-fried dumplings that'll leave you wanting another.
Pay a small fee to climb up the Old Town Hall Tower to get a breathtaking view of the busy market below.
Vienna's Schonbrunn Palace Easter market is like no other with wooden huts in front of the palace selling handmade gifts and bright, human-sized eggs dotted around on grass platforms that'll make you feel as though you're in Alice in Wonderland.
If you're visiting to try the local delicacies, you'll soon find you're spoiled for choice with both sweet and savoury options. Start with a pork, gherkin and horseradish sandwich or a slice of Leberkäse (beef, pork and bacon), before tucking into a sweet apricot dumpling, or Kaiserschmarrn (a fluffy shredded pancake).
The many stalls sell everything you can imagine from jewellery and glass egg decorations to locally-sourced bars of soap and textiles. Children have plenty to see and do with wooden toys on sale, a carousel to ride and Easter rabbit workshop where they can make crafts.
If reading about these Easter markets makes you want to book a trip to one of these beautiful cities, call us today or contact us via our website.
