Every year, right after the solemn tones of Semana Santa fade out, Valencia does what it does best: it brings everyone together for food, fun, and a quirky little tradition that makes you say: Only in Spain.
The star of the show is something called La Mona de Pascua, a round, sweet pastry (sometimes called panquemao) with one or more hard-boiled eggs baked right into the dough. Godparents traditionally gift it to their godchildren, but really, anyone with a sweet tooth and a sense of humor is invited to the party.
Here’s where things get delightfully weird. You grab your mona, make sure your hard-boiled egg is intact, lock eyes with your “target,” and recite the iconic rhyme:
“Ací em pica, ací em cou, ací et trenque l’ou en el front.”
(Here it itches, here it burns, here I crack the egg on your forehead.)
And then, SPLAT! Right on the forehead.
It’s a playful tradition believed to bring good luck, but let’s be honest: it’s mostly about the chaos and laughter. It’s like Easter meets a food fight, and I am 100% here for it.
Once the egg-smashing ends, families break out the snacks and colorful kites (called cachirulos or catxirulos) and head to the beach, a park, or anywhere with sky and snacks. Flying the kite is symbolic too; it’s all about welcoming spring and setting your spirit free after a long winter.
Besides the Mona, Valencians take picnic food very seriously. Expect to see:
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- Paella or torrà (grilled meats cooked over an open flame)
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- Longaniza de Pascua (Easter sausage, snackable and perfect with bread)
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- Potaje de vigilia (a comforting stew made with cod, chickpeas, and egg)
Basically, it’s the kind of meal that makes you forget you ever liked sad desk salads.
Eggs, as you might guess, aren’t just for forehead jokes. They’ve long symbolized rebirth and new beginnings, a theme that runs through both ancient pagan traditions and Christian beliefs about resurrection. The first known uses of eggs in Easter rituals in Spain date back to the 15th century. Valencia and Murcia even had a tradition where kids would get one egg for every year of their life, plus one more for good luck.
Imagine being 12 and walking around with a dozen eggs baked into your pastry. Iconic.
It’s weird. It’s sweet. It’s a little chaotic. And it brings people together in the most delightfully human way.
There’s something magical about laughing until you cry while wiping egg yolk off your forehead, surrounded by friends, food, and the first real sunshine of spring. It’s family, food, folklore, all in one messy, magical afternoon.
Valencia’s Easter Monday is a vibe. Whether you’re just here for the pastries, curious about the culture, or ready to commit forehead-first into a Valencian tradition, you’re in for a good time.
So next spring?
Crack the egg. Fly the kite. Eat the food.
And if you’re anything like me… you’ll probably want to do it all again next year.
Want to try it yourself?
– Pick up a Mona de Pascua from any local bakery
– Grab a few friends
– Say the rhyme… and crack that egg!
Need a reason to visit Spain in the spring? Now you have one. And it comes with carbs.
Love always,
American Girl Meets World
