THE TRAVEL BLOG OF BALTIC TOURS

It’s that time of the year when the social networks of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are loaded with photos of spectacularly colored eggs and beautifully served tables—it’s Easter time! Get to know how the people of the Baltics celebrate this festive occasion.

It’s All About The Food

If you ask any local in the Baltics what the first thing, besides the rebirth of Jesus, that associates with Easter is, you will probably get a unanimous answer—it’s the treasures of local cuisine! The Baltics follow Christian traditions, and the Easter table is usually stuffed, as it is the most important Feast day after all. An ideal Baltic Easter table would include a series of egg dishes, lots of specially prepared meats, and, of course, the icons of Easter—the painted eggs!

An Exhibition of Art

The process of painting the eggs has its roots deep down in the pagan times of the region. The egg was thought of as a symbol of the galaxy and life, thus inspiring the traditional egg-painting motives. As a result, the usual pattern of a painted egg contains miniature paintings of the Sun, stars, or trees. Nowadays, the egg-painting tradition is stronger than ever! Every family in the Baltic region creates their own masterpieces, and some even sell them during local crafts fairs. It is popular to organize some contests on the Internet too, in order to elect the most beautiful painted egg!

Traditional Games

Easter in the Baltics boasts an impressive range of games such as the fight of the eggs to find the strongest one or egg rolling. The egg-fight happens during the feast. Basically, you bash a side of your chosen egg with an identical side of your opponent’s egg, and the egg that has cracked is eaten. The victorious egg that beats all the others is joked to be kept until the next Easter. In contrast, the purpose of the egg rolling game is to collect the highest number of eggs. You start with an equal number of eggs and roll them so that you hit the other ones. These games are very popular among children and create a joyful atmosphere!

Why Should You Visit During Easter

In the Baltics, Easter is usually around that magical time when nature begins to spring into life. The weather might be rather cool; however, this is one of the best times to tour the Baltic countries as the main attractions aren’t yet crowded with tourists. If by any chance you visit one of the Easter workshops, you will definitely fall in love with this time of the year. Some restaurants offer really good Easter brunches or dinners, so you can enjoy the festive atmosphere along with the locals. Fancy giving a chance to the traditional Baltic experience? Check out our featured tours around the Baltics!