On April 5, 2026, Christians around the world will celebrate Easter. The holiday is the oldest and most important of all Christian festivals. It commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many adults in the United States (US) observe it by attending special church services. Some also fast or give up certain foods or habits during the 40 days leading up to Easter. For kids in the US, Easter means egg hunts, parades, and the Easter Bunny. But not everyone celebrates the holiday the same way. Here are a few fun customs you may want to try.

In Bermuda, the Friday before Easter is all about flying large, colorful kites. The tradition began when a teacher used a kite depicting Jesus Christ to explain his ascension. People also enjoy hot cross buns and Codfish cakes.

Norwegians spend the week‑long Easter holiday reading crime novels and watching murder‑mystery shows. To meet demand, publishers release new thrillers, and television channels show crime dramas during Easter. Even dairy companies join in with crime‑themed comic strips on milk cartons.

This custom began with a 1923 newspaper advertisement for a crime novel. It appeared on the front page just before Easter. Many readers mistook the headline — about a train robbery — for an actual news article. The marketing stunt increased sales. This prompted publishers to release crime novels around Easter. Television producers soon followed, and a tradition was born.

In Australia, kids enjoy bilby-shaped chocolates during Easter. These small, rabbit-like marsupials were once common across the country. But their numbers have dropped sharply over the years due to habitat loss and predators.

The idea of bilby-shaped chocolates is credited to Rose‑Marie Dusting. In 1968, at just nine years old, she wrote a story about an Easter bilby. Her tale, Billy the Aussie Easter Bilby, was published as a children’s book in 1979 and helped raise awareness of the animal’s plight.

In 1991, the Foundation for Rabbit-Free Australia promoted the Easter Bilby as an alternative to the Easter Bunny. Today, many Australian candy companies make chocolate bilbies for Easter. Part of the proceeds are donated to protect the animals.

On Easter Sunday, hundreds of people in Florence, Italy, dress in 15th-century clothing. They escort a 30-foot (9 m) tall historic cart filled with fireworks to the Florence Cathedral. During Easter Mass, the archbishop of Florence lights a fuse attached to the cart, setting off a spectacular display. This fun tradition is known as Scoppio del Carro, or "explosion of the cart." It is believed to ensure a good harvest in the coming year.