Christians have celebrated Easter for over 1500 years with many non-Christians marking the occasion in their own ways too. Coinciding with school holidays, Easter is a great time to take a family holiday in your own backyard as temperatures start to ease. Enjoy the tropical ambience of the Whitsundays, escape to the lush countryside of the Blue Mountains or embark on a cultural adventure in one of Australia's capital cities. Every year Sydney's Royal Easter Show draws huge crowds with promises of wild rides, the best Australian agriculture and a spectacular fireworks show.
From pancakes on Shrove Tuesday to the act of giving something up for Lent, Easter customs are embraced all over the world. Re-enactments of the Stations of the Cross and Palm Sunday processions take place in global cities across Mexico, Spain, Taiwan, the Philippines and more. Easter (Pasqua) holds particular significance in Italy where thousands of pilgrims flock to take part in Papal Mass at the Vatican. On Good Friday crowds gather at the Colosseum to watch the Pope trace the Way of the Cross and again on Sunday when he makes his main address at St. Peter's Square.
Head to London to take part in the Big Egg Hunt – set to continue after the idea was hatched in 2012, with many dozens of giant hand-decorated eggs scrambled throughout the wider United Kingdom. New York keeps tradition alive with the Easter Bonnet Parade, going strong since the 1800s, where New Yorkers grace Fifth Avenue with festive, elaborate noggin-toppers. At the White House in Washington DC, the long-standing Easter Egg Roll welcomes thousands onto the lawn for games and, of course, egg rolling.
To organise a trip for Easter, contact a consultant on 133 133 for assistance or use the form below.
