Semana Santa in Australia

The ever-popular Cadbury Easter Egg. 

Semana Santa, or "Easter", looks very different in Australia. Remembering that it was the English who colonised modern Australia, we have taken most of our celebrations straight from the UK. 

In the lead up to Easter, there are very few public celebrations of religious themes. Chocolate eggs are on sale in the supermarket, as well as chocolate bunnies and the "chocolate bilby," a native Australian chocolate animal that raises funds for bilby conservation. 

A chocolate bilby and it's endangered, nocturnal counterpart. 

Another characteristic taken from the English is the hot cross bun. These buns are typically to be eaten on Good Friday (a rule which only a select few adhere to), however the major bakery chains like Bakers Delight and other supermarkets usually sell hot cross buns for around a month before Easter. These are a delicious excuse to "celebrate" Easter with many different flavours (including chocolate and coffee) becoming available, aside from the traditional fruit and peel selection. These buns are known by the hardened cross painted onto the bun before baking which makes for a fun variation to a regular fruit bun. 

Some gorgeous home-baked hot cross buns ready to be eaten. 

As the country is largely familiar with protestant-style celebration, Easter celebrations are largely confined to churches and Cathedrals around the country. Families have holidays (two weeks for high school students, 4 days for workers), and will typically spend Easter Sunday together. 

South Australian Bushfires, 1983.

In Australian Anglican tradition, Ash Wednesday is passed where an ashen cross is painted onto the foreheads of the congregation. Ash Wednesday has special significance in Australia as it observes the anniversary of the Ash Wednesday Bushfires of 1983, which killed 75 people and injured thousands. 

On Maundy Thursday, altars are stripped of their cloths and Good Friday is observed with solemnity in the congregation. At St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne, John Stainer's oratorio "The Crucifixion" is sung every year, as well as a choral Eucharist that fills the pews. Easter Sunday is celebrated with chocolate eggs and most cafes are open for families to spend time together. 

What should I expect during Holy Week in Spain?

Unlike in Spain, there are very few public festivals or parades, so I'm very excited to see what Semana Santa has in store for me this year!