(Some) Easter traditions around the world

(Read on Daily Telegraph, on 18th March, 2016)

Poland has the Easter Monday custom of water fights. This began innocently by sprinkling young ladies with a bit of perfumed water, and developed into regular water fights in the streets. Splashing water is supposed to bring health and beauty. Smigus dyngus.

Austria. Between Holy Thursday and Easter Sunday there are no church bells ringing. According to religious lore, they all fly to Rome so altar boys use 'Ratschen' (wooden rattles) instead.

The cloches volants (flying bells) are part of the Easter traditions in France, where it is believed that they carry with them to Rome the grief of those who mourn Jesus' crucifixion on good Friday. The flying bells return on Easter Sunday morning and bring with them lots of chocolate and eggs.

Ireland. Pubs shut and the country observes a no meat eating policy on Holy Friday, enjoying fish in its place.

UK. Simnel cakes, fruit cakes toppled with 11 or 12 marzipan balls to resemble the apostles, are popular during the Easter period. The recipe dates back to Tudor times, or possibly earlier. Supposedly, Lambert Simnel, the ten-year-old pertender to Henri VII's throne, was spared death and sent to work in the royal kitchens, where he came up with the recipe.

A giant Easter omelette is prepared each year in Bessieres, southwestern France, as part of a traditional Easter celebration. According to legend, Napoleon Buonaparte stopped one evening to rest and have dinner. The Emperor was so delighted with the omelette prepared by the innkeeper that he asked the villagers to gather all the eggs in the area and prepare a huge omelette the next day for his regiment.

Ghana. Every family gathers for as feast known as 'the picnic'. The holidays is also getting renowed for the annual Ghana paragliding festival.

Nigeria. A colourful festival is held each year at Lagos, Nigeria, at Easter time featuring fabulous costumes and street parties.

Philippines. Easter sees children dressed as angels participate in a procession that usually starts very early in the morning, before dawn, to mark the resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday.

Philippines, South America, Greece and Cyprus. People construct straw renditions of Jesus' betrayer -Judas-, beat them up and then set them ablaze.

Australia. Forget the Easter bunny. Our friends Down Under celebrate the Easter bilby. It is an endangered Australian marsupial with long soft ears. To raise money and increase awareness of conservation efforts, bilby-shaped chocolates and merchandise are sold across Australia.

Sweden. It's the Easter hare and not the Easter bunny that delivers sweets to children.