EASTER IN THE UK
In the UK Easter is one of the major
Christian festivals of the year. It is full of customs, folklore and
traditional food. However, Easter in Britain has its beginnings long
before the arrival of Christianity. Many theologians believe Easter itself is
named after the Anglo-Saxon goddess of the dawn and spring - Eostre.
In Britain Easter occurs at a different
time each year. It is observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon
following the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. This means that
the festival can occur on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. Not only is
Easter the end of the winter it is also the end of Lent, traditionally a time
of fasting in the Christian calendar. It is therefore often a time of fun and
celebration.
The
Friday before Easter Sunday and the Monday after are a bank holiday in the UK. Over Easter
schools in the UK
close for two weeks, just enough time to digest all the chocolate.
SYMBOLS OF EASTER
Easter Eggs
Easter eggs are a very old tradition going
to a time before Christianity. Eggs after all are a symbol of spring and new
life.
Exchanging and eating Easter eggs is a
popular custom in many countries. In the UK before they were replaced by
chocolate Easter eggs real eggs were used, in most cases, chicken eggs. The
eggs were hard-boiled and dyed in various colours and patterns. The traditionally
bright colours represented spring and light.
An older more traditional game is one in
which real eggs are rolled against one another or down a hill. The owner of the
egg that stayed uncracked the longest won. In other places another game is
played. You hold an egg in the palm of the hand and bang against your
opponent's egg. The loser is the one whose egg breaks first.
Nowadays
people give each other Easter eggs made of chocolate, usually hollow and filled
with sweets. And Britain
children hunt for (chocolate) Easter eggs hidden about the home or garden by
the Easter bunny.
The Easter Bunny
Rabbits, due to their fecund nature, have
always been a symbol of fertility. The Easter bunny (rabbit) however may
actually be an Easter hare. The hare was allegedly a companion of the ancient
Moon goddess Eostre.
Strangely the bunny as an Easter symbol
seems to have it's origins in Germany.
In the UK children believe that if they
are good the "Easter Bunny” will leave (chocolate) eggs for them.
Dressing Up For Easter
Easter was once a traditional day for
getting married, that may be why people often dress up for Easter. Women would
make and wear special Easter bonnets - decorated with flowers and ribbons. Even
today in Battersea in London
there is a special Easter Parade, where hand-made bonnets are shown off.
Hot Cross Buns
Hot
cross buns, now eaten throughout the Easter season, were first baked in England to be
served on Good Friday. These small, lightly sweet yeast buns contain raisins or currants and
sometimes chopped candied fruit. Before baking, a cross is slashed in the top
of the bun. After baking, a confectioners' sugar icing is used to fill the
cross.
If you want to learn how to celebrate "An Easter egg hunt", look at this video:
