In England, Easter is a major Christian event. There are many customs and traditions to follow. Let’s see some of them, shall we?
Easter always happens on a different day in England. It takes place on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. This means Easter may fall on any Sunday between March 22nd and April 25th. Easter is also the end of Lent, which is the forty days prior to it, a time of fasting for Christians, usually celebrated among family and friends.
Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, is the Thursday before Easter; Christians remember it as the day of Jesus Christ’s Last Supper. The Friday before, called Good Friday, and the Monday after Easter Sunday are a bank holiday in the UK. The schools are usually also closed for two weeks over Easter in the UK. Good Friday is considered a day of mourning in church.
Easter is very important for the chocolate industry too. In England, Easter eggs are often large hollow chocolate eggs filled with chocolate truffles or sweets. The eggs are covered with colorful packages. Many people celebrate Easter Sunday by exchanging eggs; the kids have fun “hunting” eggs hidden around the house. Children believe that the Easter bunny or rabbit comes to their house or garden to hide them. A Simnel cake is also eaten at Easter in England and Ireland. It’s basically a fruit cake with a thin layer of marzipan on top; local bakers and teashops sell the cake to the community.
If you go to London, there are plenty of things to do over Easter. Londoners usually go to parks like the Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Regent’s Park, Richmond Park or Victoria Park, just to name a few. The London Zoo is another choice for those who like to see animals. Some people go to the West End to enjoy plays and musicals at the Victoria Palace, The Shaftesbury or the Savoy theaters.
Would you like to spend Easter in England? If you’ve been there, tell us how it was!
Later!
