Every year, Europe says goodbye to the long and arduous winter to welcome the fresh, clean air of spring. From fabulous flowers in bloom to lovely, moderate temperatures, Europe seems to come alive when the frost flees. But with the arrival of spring, some European countries go the extra mile to celebrate and leave the winter woes behind.
So, this year, Expat Explore is celebrating the European spring equinox with our list of the weird and wonderful traditions to ring in spring around Europe! Take a look at the spring equinox traditions that some of the top European destinations will participate in on and around 20 March!
Related: Discover the best places to visit in Europe this spring!
Discover Europe’s weirdest spring equinox traditions:
The Hill of the Witch, Ireland
Halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, Ireland marks the start of the new season with a celebration called Imbolc. This traditional Gaelic festival, taking place annually in County Meath, has been observed in the United Kingdom for centuries. This location is home to a sacred ancient burial monument called “The Hill of the Witch”.
What makes this time and location so special? On the morning of Imbolc, the Irish sun aligns perfectly to illuminate a white rock in the chamber of the burial complex. Legend has it that a witch appears on this hill to collect firewood for the upcoming season. It is said that the longer she needs to collect her firewood, the longer the following winter will be.
Related: Discover the many myths of Ireland on our Irish Explorer tour!
Oudenberg Hill, Belgium
We think it’s safe to say that nobody celebrates the start of spring quite like they do in Belgium. On the last Sunday in February, participants don their medieval knights’ attire and parade up Oudenberg Hill. Once there, the procession continues with the annual bread ring throw, where thousands of krakelingen (bread rings) are scattered from atop the hill over the town below.
Then, the celebrations continue by setting fire to a wooden barrel. After, they head back to the city with torches in hand to signify the return of light with the season’s change. Finally, the celebrations conclude with a practice that’s sparked some recent controversy – drinking red wine from a chalice filled with small, live fish.
Related: Explore the best things to do around Belgium!
Exploding Snowman, Switzerland
Switzerland also has an interesting way of welcoming spring. Every year, Zurich residents celebrate winter’s end with a festival of fire! A huge pyre is built and topped with a snowman, ready to sacrifice itself for the coming season. Early in the evening, the pyre is lit and the flames grow high. So does the excitement of those in attendance who can no longer contain their excitement!
Finally, the climax of the event. The head of the snowman, stuffed with fireworks, catches flame and explodes in a spectacular burst of light. This is meant to welcome spring and signify the end of the winter as well as the start of an all-night party! The bigger the boom, the bigger the feast and the sooner summer is believed to come.
Related: Give these outdoor adventures in Switzerland a go!
Busójárás, Hungary
The Busójárás (also known as the Busó Festival) is six days of festivities marking the end of winter. It is celebrated annually in Hungary with the busós (men costumed with wooden masks, horns and shaggy robes to resemble frightening creatures) arriving along the Danube River by boat to start the carnival.
Later, the event concludes with a massive bonfire in the heart of town. The town centre becomes abuzz with busós, food stalls, music and celebratory residents! It is believed that the carnival started as a means of scaring off the Ottomans who ruled over Hungary back in the day. Today, it still lives on as a boisterous celebration of the end of winter!
Related: Add trying these delicious Hungarian dishes to your travel plans!
Burn the Winter Goddess, Slovakia
Residents in the town of Prešov in Slovakia have another interesting way to wave winter goodbye and welcome spring. Every year, this Slavic tradition is carried forth to fight the frost. Mara is considered the goddess of death and winter in Slavic cultures. For winter to truly be washed away, Mara must be burned.
Every March, local school children make a scaled version of Mara from natural materials like scrap wood and straw. The ceremony then entails burning the life-sized Mara. After, she’s tossed in the Torysa River that joins the Danube before flowing into the Black Sea.
Užgavėnės, Lithuania
Meaning “the time before lent”, Užgavėnės is a seasonal festival in Lithuania marking the end of winter as it takes place seven weeks before Easter. One of the most popular elements of the Užgavėnės celebrations is the procession of Morė – a dummy shaped like a woman to signify winter. Burning Morė ends winter and welcomes spring’s abundance.
The burning ceremony is meant to be a rowdy one, accompanied by dressed-up musicians, to wake up the earth and all its life after a winter slumber. Other fun elements of Užgavėnės include “chasing winter out of the yard” as well as the traditional fight between Kanapinis and Lašininis (symbolising winter and spring) to determine whether it will be a “fat” or “lean” year ahead.
Related: Taste tradition in every bite of must-try Lithuanian cuisine!
After reading our list of the most unique spring equinox traditions in Europe, we hope you’re ready to take on a new season of global travel! Discover when to travel where with our guide to seasons around the world!
Expat Explore offers guided group tours to all of the must-see destinations on this list. To see them all and tick their top attractions off your bucket list, simply book a tour!