What Easter is normally like in Switzerland

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Youths advertising for Easter activities in Ciani Park in Lugano in 2016 (KEYSTONE/Ti-Press/Gabriele Putzu) © Keystone / Ti-press / Gabriele Putzu

During their Easter procession, participants make their way through the village eating bread and drinking wine on Easter Monday. Grimisuat, Canton Valais, 1954. (Keystone/Photopress-Archive/By) swissinfo.ch

Ready for cracking: traditionally boiled and decorated Easter eggs, pictured here in Bern in 2018 (Peter Klaunzer/Keystone) © Keystone / Peter Klaunzer

The "Eierleset" (picking up the eggs) is an old spring custom. It has no religious references; instead the focus is on fertility and the awakening of nature. Photo from 2018 (Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch) © 2018 Thomas Kern

During the traditional Good Friday procession, the Merciful Brothers of Altdorf march from the parish church up to the Capuchin monastery in Altdorf. Pictured here in 2019 (Urs Flüeler/Keystone) © Keystone / Urs Flueeler

Not possible to keep a distance for this game: people tapping their Easter eggs during the traditional "Eiertuetschete" event in Zurich in 1972 (Keystone/Str) swissinfo.ch

Motorists eager to escape the cold and snow as they head south, pictured here at the mouth of the Gotthard tunnel near Erstfeld in 2018 (Urs Flüeler/Keystone) © Keystone / Urs Flueeler

A helicopter transporting a giant Easter egg by the artist Mandril in Neuchâtel in 2019 (KEYSTONE/Jean-Christophe Bott) © Keystone / Jean-christophe Bott

Every Maundy Thursday in Mendrisio, Christ's journey to Calvary for his crucifixion is reenacted by 200 local people. Photo from 2014 (Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch) © 2014 Thomas Kern

On Easter Sunday in 2012, a walker captures the sights of the snowy landscape near Lungern in canton Obwalden (Keystone/Urs Flüeler) swissinfo.ch

The distribution of Easter gifts at the town hall in Unterseen in canton Bern in 1941 (Keystone/Photopress-Archive/Walter Henggeler) swissinfo.ch

One of the "pleureuses" of Romont, canton Fribourg. On scarlet cushions, the mourners carry the symbols of the Passion: a crown of thorns, a whip, nails, a hammer, tongs, and St. Veronica's shroud (Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch) © 2018 Thomas Kern

Another tradition is the "blue egg swim" in Uster near Zurich. Even if Easter falls later than usual in a given year, the lake water is still quite cold. Photo from 2019 (Walter Bieri/Keystone) © Keystone / Walter Bieri

A double balancing act: the annual Easter ski race in Villars-Bretaye in canton Vaud requires skiers to collect boiled eggs on the way down. Photo from 1939 (Keystone/Photopress-Achive/Str) swissinfo.ch

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For many people living in Switzerland, the long Easter weekend is usually a time for festive gatherings and maybe a trip to another part of the country. Because of the coronavirus lockdown, this year is quite different.

One classic “event” each Easter is the pilgrimage of sun-hungry northerners over and through the Alps to canton Ticino – popular for its mild climate, lakeside promenades and palm trees. This year the Swiss authorities have urged people to stay put – even if they have second homes waiting for them in mountain villages or other recreational areas.

The cities will also be quieter than usual. For example, social distancing makes it impossible for egg lovers to gather for traditional public egg-cracking parties. However, families at home can still play this game.

Despite restrictions on selling many non-essential items, retailers are still allowed to sell edible Easter-themed merchandise such as chocolate rabbits. Swiss supermarkets in general are well-stocked, though the recent surge in home cooking and baking means last-minute shoppers might have to be flexible about ingredients. Actually, that’s often the case around a holiday in Switzerland, when shopping hours are restricted anyway.