Easter in Great Britain

Easter is one of the main Christian holidays of the year in the UK.

It is full of old English traditions. Easter in Britain began to be celebrated long before Christianity appeared here.

Easter can take place any Sunday from March 22 to April 25 according to the Gregorian calendar.

The Sunday a week before Easter is called Palm Sunday.

On Easter schools in the UK close for two weeks.

The tradition of making Easter eggs appeared in England in the 13th century. In 1290, the English king Edward I ordered to decorate 450 eggs with a gold leaf and present them as Easter gifts.

Easter is the end of Lent. On this day the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead took place. The British on this day attend church services which are often held at dawn.

Traditional Easter Sunday meal includes roast lamb, potatoes and green peas, simnel cake, hot cross buns as well as fruit cakes with marzipan, painted eggs, small yellow chickens and chocolate rabbits. Also the table is decorated with spring flowers, such as daffodils, white lilies and tulips.