Easter is an important celebration of Christianity that remembers the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The date of this celebration changes every year, and its definition criteria were established by the Catholic Church in the 4th century AD. Religious authorities established that Easter would be celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs after the spring equinox (in the Northern Hemisphere). Thus, the celebration period is between March 22nd and April 25th. This year, Easter is celebrated on March 31st.
Easter Traditions in Brazil
In Brazil, the most popular tradition is that of the Catholic church. Thus, during Holy Week, the celebration is marked by masses, various reenactments of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ that are known as the Passion of Christ.
The tradition of giving someone chocolate eggs has become quite popular and one of the great symbols of modern Easter. This practice is associated with another great consolidated symbol of this celebration: the Easter bunny, as a representation of fertility, due to its high reproductive capacity.
In addition, Brazilians love to get together with family and friends for a special Sunday lunch. The typical dishes include Portuguese-style cod fish and Salmon.
Best places to celebrate Easter in Brazil
Gramado (Rio Grande do Sul) – We can’t talk about Easter without talking about chocolate, right? And when it comes to chocolate, no Brazilian city beats Gramado, in Rio Grande do Sul. The region is known for being home to several chocolate factories, which offer guided tours and experiences of the most different types of chocolate you can imagine. Besides that, the city is incredibly beautiful.
Pomerode (Santa Catarina) – Did you know that Pomerode is considered the most German city in Brazil? The place is home to several natural beauties. Like Gramado, Pomerode is very popular during this period, due to the annual Easter festival, whose main attraction is the Osterbaum, a tree made with approximately 80,000 natural eggshells, referencing the emergence of the Easter egg tradition, which started with decorated chicken eggs.
Penedo (Rio de Janeiro) – The “Brazilian Finland”. We are talking about Penedo. The city is home to the country’s main Finnish colony, as well as several chocolate factories and shops, which attract locals and tourists throughout the year, especially at Easter and Christmas.
Unlike Gramado, however, the temperature in Penedo doesn’t tend to drop that much, which is great for those who want to enjoy the beautiful waterfalls that make up the city’s natural setting.
For fans of souvenirs, the place also has an open-air shopping mall where most of the sweet shops and chocolate factories are located. Therefore, the space is one of the most visited by tourists, as is the city’s main avenue, Avenida das Mangueiras, which is home to several unmissable restaurants.