Rick Steves' European Easter

Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 11 a.m. on KPBS TV / On Demand

Taking you on a spring journey through Spain, Slovenia, Italy, and Greece, "Rick Steves' European Easter" celebrates this 2,000-year-old story in a variety of cultures.

Ancient rituals of woolly beasts scaring away winter in Slovenia and elegant, masked Carnival parties in Venice are a prelude to the austerity of Lent. A few weeks later, Palm Sunday crowds fill St. Peter's Square in Rome, and the streets of Sevilla are packed as the Passion of Christ unfolds day by day through Holy Week.

The despair of Good Friday gives way to Easter Sunday, when the joy of the Resurrection fills family gatherings, small-town festivals, and churches of every size all across Europe — just as spring floods the world with new life. You'll join villagers blessing olive branches and coming together in age-old processions, and you'll feel the emotion of this special time as Andalusians carry towering parade floats and Greek priests toss showers of flower petals.

Exploring a rich and fascinating mix of traditions, from its pagan roots to its glorious finale, "Rick Steves' European Easter" sheds new light on this timeless holiday.

Related Article: Easter in Europe by Rick Steves

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Easter in Rome. Explore the secular traditions that accompany Easter — that world of kids, chocolate eggs and local delicacies.

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Easter mass in Rome.

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A visitor kisses the hand of a statue of Mary in Sevilla, the capital of Spain's southern Andalucía region.

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Rick Steves visits a church in Tuscany, Italy.

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Celebration of Easter in Greece includes the lighting of candles. At midnight on Holy Saturday, townspeople turn off their lights and come to the main square. The priest emerges from the church with a candle and spreads light through the candle-carrying crowd, who then take the light home with them. Gradually the entire town is illuminated…and the fireworks begin.

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A child receives chocolate Easter eggs in Greece.

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An Easter egg hunt in Greece.

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People gather in a circle celebrating Easter through dance, Greece.

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Rick Steves joins a celebration of Easter through dance.

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Rick Steves visits a Greek Orthodox church in Nafplio, Greece (interior view).

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Exterior photo of the church in Nafplio, Greece.

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Taking you on a spring journey through Spain, Slovenia, Italy, and Greece, "Rick Steves' European Easter" celebrates this 2,000-year-old story in a variety of cultures. Rick joins Andalusians carrying parade floats (pictured), Greek priests tossing showers of flower petals, and villagers blessing olive branches, plus feasting, fireworks and more.

Courtesy of American Public Television

Watch On Your Schedule:

Past episodes and video clips of RICK STEVES' EUROPE are available on demand on Rick's website and at video.kpbs.org.

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