2. What is Easter?
• Easter is the oldest and the most
important Christian Festival, the
celebration of the death and
coming to life again of Jesus
Christ.
• The Easter story includes Maundy
Thursday (the last supper of
Jesus), Good Friday (the day on
which Jesus was crucified), and
Easter Day (the day on which
Jesus came back to life).
3. • Easter also celebrates
the return of nature after
the cold, snowy winter.
• The Easter chick
symbolises new life, the
rabbit represents fertility
and the egg symbolises
both. That is why
painted eggs or
chocolate eggs are
given as gifts at Easter.
4. When is Easter?
• The date of Easter changes every year.
Easter Sunday can fall on any date from 22
March to 25 April.
• The reason for this variation in the date of
Easter is based on the lunar calendar
(moon) rather than our more well-known
solar one.
• Easter always falls on the first Sunday
following the full Moon after 21 March.
• This year Easter is on the 31st of March.
5. Good Friday/Easter Monday
• Good Friday and Easter Monday
are both public holidays in the UK.
• On Good Friday, Christians
remember the day when Jesus
was crucified on a cross.
• Easter Monday has little religious
significance but is usually a ‘fun’
day.
• Good Friday is the Friday
before Easter Sunday and Easter
Monday is the Monday after.
6. On these days religious
people…
• Fast
Some Christians go without food on
Good Friday. This helps them
remember the sacrifice Jesus made
for them on the day of crucifixion.
• Hold a procession
Some Christians carry a cross
through the streets and then into
church.
• Have a special Church Service
Many Churches hold services lasting
three hours.
7. Easter Sunday
• Christians gather together on Easter
Sunday for a Sunrise Service.
• Some Christians light a new fire
outside the church early on Sunday
morning. The Paschal candle,
decorated with studs to celebrate
Christ's wounds, may be lit from the
fire and carried into the church
where it is used to light the candles
of the worshippers.
8. Most People…
• Give chocolate eggs as presents.
The eggs are either hollow or have a
filling, and are usually covered with
brightly coloured silver paper.
Around 80 million chocolate eggs are
eaten each year in Britain.
• Have Easter Egg Hunts. Small
chocolate eggs are hidden for the
children to find on the traditional
Easter Egg Hunt.
9. Cadburys Creme Egg
• This is the most popular
Easter Egg in the UK with
a white and yellow
fondant filling to look like
a real egg.
• They are seasonal and
only available between
January and April (Easter
season).
10. Traditional Easter Food
Custard Tarts
Boiled Eggs Roast Lamb
Easter Biscuits Simnel Cake Hot Cross Buns