Spring is at our doorstep, with all the beauties nature can offer us at this time of the year. But there is other beauty to be seen during this season – the wonderful Easter celebrations all across Europe. There are many great things to discover at this time of the year – some of them are unique, worthy of laying eyes on them. Here are a few examples.
The Dance of the Dead in Verges, Spain
Verges is a small town in the Girona region of Catalonia, with about 1,200 inhabitants. It is a town built around a medieval fort, worthy of visiting at any time of the year. But for Easter Verges becomes a place that can offer visitors something unique – a Dance of the Dead (Dansa de la Mort), which is performed every Easter after the Passion play.
Dances of the Dead were common in the Middle Ages all across Europe, but today the one observed in Verges is the only one that is still being performed. This is what makes it unique – and the fact that it is still performed as it has been for centuries.
Verges is located close to the city of Barcelona, at a bit over 1 hour of driving.
The Easter Trees in Germany
Easter is a very popular holiday in Germany – it represents the start of spring after a long and cold winter. School is off for two weeks around the holiday, and workers have a very long weekend – Good Friday and Easter Monday are official holidays. Many Germans travel around the celebration, others prefer to relax and play redflush on mobile. but all of them raise an incredibly colorful “Osterbaum” (Easter Trees) – branches or trees decorated with colorful dyed eggs and ribbons to salute the rebirth of the nature (along with the resurrection of Jesus Christ).
Easter mass at the Basilica di San Marco in Venice
Basilica di San Marco is one of the best known landmarks of Venice, along with the public square on which it is located. There are many things to see in the cathedral itself – but none of that compares to the feeling of participating at the late night Easter mass organized at the church. It can be a truly uplifting and moving experience – hundreds of people silently praying in the light of the candles, their murmur accompanies by the sound of the cathedral’s bells.
If you plan to visit Venice during Easter, it’s best if you arrive on Good Friday – it is a workday in Italy, so visitors from other Italian regions will likely not arrive until Saturday. This can help you find lodging in the city much more easily.
