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" In America, ham has become the traditional Easter dinner centerpiece. But fellow Christians outside the U.S. toast the holiday with delicacies you may be less familiar with, like pyramid-shaped cheesecake, herring and hot cross buns. Symbolic or steeped in tradition, these culinary mainstays make Easter a front-runner of food-friendly holidays everywhere. Hot Cross Buns  Traditionally eaten in the UK during Easter time, these little buns are flecked with currants or raisins and have a cross etched and/or frosted along the top. Many believe the tradition was started by the Anglo-Saxons, who crossed the buns to honor the four quarters of the moon. Now the cross is widely used to symbolize Jesus&amp;#039; crucifixion. Photo: Shutterstock Paskha   &amp;quot;Paskha&amp;quot; means &amp;quot;Easter&amp;quot; in Russian, but it is also the name of this traditional Easter dessert. Made primarily of cream cheese and cottage cheese\u2014foods traditionally forbidden during Lent\u2014it&amp;#039;s speckled with dried fruit, molded into a pyramid shape and stamped with the letters &amp;quot;XB,&amp;quot; which stand for &amp;quot;Christ has risen&amp;quot; in Cyrillic script. Photo: Thinkstock Paskelbrygg   Breweries in Norway began making this special blend of &amp;quot;the best local beers&amp;quot; in 1934, but it met a lot of opposition from Christian groups. After World War II, however, the tradition picked up popularity and is still a common holiday brew today. Photo: Shutterstock Red or Green Easter Eggs  Outside the U.S., the Easter custom of dyeing eggs (symbolic of rebirth and thus the resurrection) goes beyond DIY crafts. In Greece, eggs are dyed red to represent the blood of Christ; in Germany, eggs are dyed green and exchanged on Holy Thursday, when other green foods, like veggies, are consumed, as well. Photo: Shutterstock Pa\u00E7oca de Amendoim  More commonly referred to as just &amp;quot;Pa\u00E7oca&amp;quot;\u2014not to be confused with the salty meat dish of the same name\u2014this Brazilian Easter treat is made of crushed peanuts, sugar and cassava flour (and has a taste likened to the insides of a Reese&amp;#039;s Peanut Butter Cup). The easy-to-dole-out candy has long been served during holiday procession walks. Photo: iStockphoto Monas  Especially in Spain during Easter time, one is likely to see elaborate chocolate sculptures called &amp;quot;monas&amp;quot; (first established during the 15th century in Catalonia) gracing displays. The figures and scenes, some of which can be seen at the Chocolate Museum in Barcelona, celebrate history and are more or less intended for entertainment. Photo: AFP/Getty Images Colomba Pasquale  Made of natural yeast, butter, flour, sugar and eggs, this traditional Easter loaf, commonly served throughout Italy, is known for its panettone-like flavor and distinct shape: a dove, which represents peace or Christ. Before being baked, the bread is coated with almonds and coarse sugar. Photo: Getty Images Herring  In Scandinavia, this saltwater fish\u2014which is caught during spring around Easter time\u2014is enjoyed in one of many preparations: pickled, raw or cured. Traditionally, the delicacy is served on a bun or alongside rye bread, potatoes, sour cream and akvavit, a special-occasion Schnapps. Photo: Shutterstock "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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