Easter in Brazil is a big celebration with most, if not all, businesses being closed for the day.  Many people go to church and then spend the rest of the day with family, just as a lot of people in the United States do.  One big difference though is that instead of ham for the big meal, many Brazilians have churrasco, or BBQ, where different meats are put on spits and roasted over coals.  On the secular side of things, the Easter bunny here brings the kids big chocolate eggs hollowed out with either candy or a toy on the inside.  About a month before Easter the stores set up wooden braces and hang the eggs from hooks.  That gives the kids lots of time to decide which one they would like the Easter bunny to bring them!  The kids’ eggs have themes like Barbie, Strawberry Shortcake, Ben 10, Superman, etc…  For the refined adults’ tastes some examples are Nestle Crunch, Ferrero Rocher, etc…

Our church will celebrate with a sunrise service again this year.  Last year was the first year it had ever been done in our congregation and it went over quite well.   Most Brazilians do not like to get up that early, but for such a special occasion the extra effort is made.  All of our members pitched in last year with food and drink so that we could have breakfast after the service.  Breakfast consisted of coffee with milk, homemade bread with different jellies and butter to choose from, and several different coffee cakes.  America’s version of a hot breakfast, such as waffles, pancakes and scrambled eggs, don’t exist here or at least is not very common.

I think I speak for both myself and my husband in that we both miss traditional Easter hymns in English.   We do have some people in our congregation that play the guitar and the flute, but I still miss the sound of trumpets at Easter time.  Another tradition that isn’t followed here is the season of Lent leading up to Easter.  We have had special services during Lent in the past, but not this year.  I think part of the difficulty lies with the work schedule of the people here.  Many people don’t get done with work until 7 at night and then still have to get home, many by bus, which takes even longer, and have dinner.

Even though not all of the same traditions take place that we grew up with, Easter holds a special place in our hearts as Christians and we are happy to be able to celebrate it once again with our brothers and sisters in Christ here in Brazil!

Brandi Bivens