BLOG: Highland Easter Traditions: Stories From Past to Present

At The Inverness Castle Experience, we believe stories live best when they continue to be told. So this Easter, we’re sharing some of the traditions that shaped the season in the Highlands - and inviting you to become part of a new one.

Rolling Eggs & Rolling Stones: Pace-Egging in the Highlands

Long before chocolate eggs lined every shop window, Highland communities were busy dyeing and decorating real eggs for pace-egging. These eggs — often coloured with onion skins, gorse blossoms, or simple paint — were rolled down grassy slopes in towns and villages across the region.

The meaning behind the roll?
A powerful symbol of the stone being rolled away from Christ’s tomb — but also, some say, a nod to the sun’s return and the beginning of new life.

If you grew up in the Highlands, you might remember the thrill of picking the perfect hill and cheering as the eggs bounced and tumbled their way to victory (or glorious cracking). It’s a tradition that still brings smiles today, reminding us of the joy that comes with even the simplest rituals.

Feasting the Highland Way

For many Highland families, Easter Sunday is marked by the aroma of roast lamb slowly cooking - a meal rich with meaning.

Often called the “Lamb of God,” the lamb has long been at the centre of the Easter table, symbolising sacrifice, purity, and the promise of renewal.

But lamb wasn’t (and isn't) the only delicacy to feature on Highland tables…

Other Easter staples included:

• Clootie dumpling – a warm, spiced pudding tied in cloth and simmered for hours, full of comforting sweetness.

• Hot cross buns – enjoyed on Good Friday, marked with the symbolic cross.

• Simnel cake – layered with marzipan and topped with small marzipan balls representing the apostles.

Each dish tells a story - of celebration, community, and the importance of gathering together after the long winter months.

The Flames of the Past

One custom that has faded with time — but once glowed brightly in the Highlands — is the lighting of Easter bonfires. Kindled between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, these flames were thought to purify, protect, and mark the turning of the season.

Though you don’t see as many Easter fires today, the spirit of gathering around stories and light remains deeply woven into Highland culture, and you can find this within the experience for yourself.

Quiet Reverence: Highland Easter Observances

Easter has always been a time of reflection as well as celebration. Across the Highlands, communities observed traditions such as:

• Dawn services on hilltops or church grounds

• The “no iron” tradition, where tools were laid aside on Good Friday

• Spring bonnets and Sunday best, showing off creativity and the joy of renewal

These moments, though varied, shared something essential: a sense of connection - to faith, to nature, and to each other.

Carrying the Story Forward: A New Easter Tradition at Inverness Castle

Just as layers of history shape the Highlands, so too is Easter a weaving of old and new traditions. This year, we invite you to begin a new one:

Make The Inverness Castle Experience part of your Easter celebration.

Discover tales of:

• Highland communities and our people

• The symbolism woven through our landscapes

• Our spirit

Our immersive exhibits bring to life a showcase of the Highlands through story, sound, and the Spirit of the Highlands themselves. Whether you’re reliving memories or discovering these traditions for the first time, the Castle offers a place to reflect, reconnect, and celebrate what makes the Highlands truly special.

Start a new story this spring.

Visit The Inverness Castle Experience this Easter and discover the Spirit of the Highlands, and let it inspire your future trips.