How to celebrate Easter in England, traditions: how Easter is celebrated in England. Bright Easter holiday in England What is English Easter

The celebration of Easter in England has its own symbols and ancient traditions.

A few centuries ago in England, Easter was accompanied by games and fun. Sometimes the clergy and laity entertained themselves on Easter playing ball. Special Easter cupcakes or puddings were presented as a prize.

In some parishes in Dorset and Devon, after the Good Friday service on Easter, it was customary to distribute special white cupcakes as an easter treat. These cupcakes came in different sizes and had a bittersweet taste. For this, the servant received a monetary reward from the owners, which depended on their material wealth and generosity.

In Lancashire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and some counties, there was a funny the custom of carrying each other in one's arms. On Easter Monday the men had to carry the women, and on Easter Tuesday the women in turn carried the men. Two strong men or women crossed their hands with each other in such a way that a kind of “sitting” was obtained for the third. Thus, many were able to “drive” a few yards along the street.

They say that one reverend traveler passed by a small town in Lancashire on Easter Tuesday. He stopped to rest at a local hotel. He was extremely surprised when several strong, sensual women ran up to him with an offer to “move” him! The traveler asked to explain what was happening. And the ladies told him: “Today is Easter Tuesday, and we must reschedule them instead! Therefore, we will definitely transfer you too! This is our right and duty." After long negotiations, the frightened confessor managed to deviate from this local tradition, proposing to replace the ridiculous tradition with half a crown.

On Easter Monday in some areas of England men demanded the privilege take off the ladies' shoes, but the next day, the women did the same.

Naturally, in modern England these traditions and pastimes have sunk into oblivion, and very few are likely to have survived in certain patriarchal villages.

However, even today the traditions of celebrating Easter in England are very cheerful, bright, colorful and joyful. Easter is one of the most important holidays of the year in this country. On Easter Day at dawn in churches religious services are underway. Organ music concerts are traditionally held in Catholic churches.

On this holiday in England it is customary to wear new clothes, which symbolizes the end of the stormy weather season and the onset of spring. Easter baskets full of eggs, bread and other food are taken with them to the Easter service to be blessed in the church. On Easter Monday, children on the streets are given candy and toys.

Children in England look forward to Sunday at Easter. On Sunday morning they will wake up and see that Easter Bunny I left baskets of goodies for them and hid the eggs that they painted last week.

By the way, the Easter bunny symbolizes abundance and fertility, since everyone knows the ability of this soft and fluffy animal to quickly increase offspring. One of the legends about the Easter bunny (hare) is associated with the name of the Anglo-Saxon goddess Iostre, who appears accompanied by a long-eared pet. It is the rabbit who, according to legend, hides Easter eggs in secluded places so that children can look for them later.

Children in England look all over the house for eggs for Easter. There are even traditional competitions - egg hunting. The child who collects the most receives a reward. Such celebrations are organized in parks and restaurants.

Among the Easter symbols of England eggs occupy one of the most important positions. They signify abundance, and there is an ancient custom of exchanging them among family and friends. In ancient times, Easter eggs were brightly colored to signal the arrival of spring. Red is the color of the blood of Jesus, and green is the color of holiness.

However, now in the UK another tradition with Easter eggs has taken root - presenting them to friends and relatives not real eggs, but chocolate ones, inside of which there is caramel or some other delicacies, as well as all sorts of souvenirs in the form of Easter eggs.

On Easter mornings in England, children traditionally rolling eggs down the mountain. This is an old game. The egg that rolls down the mountain symbolizes the stone rolled away from the Holy Sepulcher. In Lancashire, Easter festivities and “egg races” are held: hard-boiled eggs are rolled down a hill, and the winner is the one whose egg rolls down the hill first. The British spread this tradition to America.

In England at Easter there is also a tradition of decorating churches and houses with candles on Easter days. Making decorations for Easter candles is a popular pastime for English families.

The morning of Good Friday, which in England is called “Good” - Good Friday, begins with breakfast, during which freshly baked cross buns are served - spicy, fluffy, cut into a cross on top before baking, with raisins or candied fruits inside. The burning sensation in the mouth from the spices when eating the buns should remind people of the agony of Christ.

By the way, it is believed that the cross on buns has been preserved from the pre-Christian period of life in England, when it symbolized the sun and the onset of spring. Today the cross is a symbol of resurrection. There is another legend: buns protect the house from evil spirits and have healing properties. That's why people used to hang these buns on their kitchen ceilings.

For Easter lunch It is customary to decorate the house in a festive spring manner - with flowers, figurines of Easter bunnies. The English set the table beautifully, decorating its middle with an Easter basket with white lilies; in other corners of the table there must certainly be colorful Easter eggs.

A traditional Easter treat is honey-garlic meatballs, baked smoked ham, spring salad, sausage or bacon, glazed apple, potatoes in rosemary-garlic butter. The main Easter dish is baked stuffed lamb.

On Easter in England, as in many other countries, it is customary to have weddings. Traditionally, these days white, cream, yellow or soft pink shades are used for wedding attire.

Young people in England do not delve too deeply into the origins of religious holidays, recognizing the existence of Jesus as a general concept and a more rational explanation for his resurrection. Fewer and fewer island residents understand the rituals, ceremonies and traditions of Easter. For most of the younger generation in England, Easter is a fun, funny holiday.

And, of course, in modern England for Easter, the production of Easter bunnies of various types is widely established - from chocolate-marzipan varieties to funny toy and textile products, and they are sold in huge quantities during these pre-holiday days.

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There are holidays in the UK that everyone loves and celebrates, and Easter is one of them. Easter, or in English, Easter, is celebrated in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter services are held at night, and many Catholic churches hold organ concerts on the holiday Sunday. As one of the main religious holidays, Easter in Great Britain has acquired its own traditions and customs, and some of them are radically different from ours.

Easter traditions

According to tradition, Easter is celebrated in the spring, and the British customarily wear only new clothes on this day, thus symbolizing the arrival of spring, the flourishing of all living things and the departure of inclement weather. During Easter, schools are closed for a 2-week holiday. And for adults there are official weekends from Good Friday to Easter Monday.

On the last Friday before Easter (Good Friday), solemn prayers are held in churches, reminding all laity of the suffering of Jesus. On this day, cross buns are baked with raisins and candied fruits or currants inside; the top of these buns is cut in the form of a cross (hence the name), symbolizing the resurrection of the Son of the Lord. According to legend, such buns have healing properties and even ward off evil spirits from the house. A lot of spices are added to these buns so that when you eat them, everything “burns” in your mouth - this is also a symbol of the memory of the suffering of Christ.
On Easter Sunday morning, the whole British family goes to church and watches the sunrise there. In every church, a large candle is lit, into which dozens of pins are stuck, symbolizing the wounds of Jesus Christ. This candle is carried through the entire temple so that each parishioner can light his own candle from it.
As in our country, in Great Britain it is customary to collect baskets of food, colored eggs, chocolate, and homemade cakes for Easter. In the church, the priest blesses all these baskets, and then in the family circle at the festive table all these dishes are eaten together.
Especially for a festive dinner, the British decorate their house beautifully - festive, airy and gentle in a spring-like manner, preferring white, pink, and green colors. An Easter basket with white lilies must be placed in the middle of the set table, and multi-colored Easter eggs are laid out in the corners of the table.

Symbols of Easter in Great Britain

Like here, in the UK it is impossible to imagine Easter without Easter colored eggs. Eggs painted red symbolize the blood of Jesus, while eggs painted green symbolize his holiness. Today, the British have a new tradition - giving each other chocolate eggs with a surprise, which can contain various candies, marmalades or souvenirs.

The Easter bunny has become the symbol of Easter in Great Britain, representing fertility and abundance. According to legend, it is he who brings eggs to obedient and good children, hiding them in different places in the house so that the children will later look for their treats. The one who finds the most eggs will also receive a reward. Fluffy figurines are symbolically placed on the table, the house is decorated with them, and chocolate bunnies are given to children.
The main Easter dish on the British table, in addition to eggs and pastries, is baked lamb with vegetables and mint or rosemary sauce. Also for Easter, it is customary to cook meatballs in honey-garlic sauce, bacon glazed with apples and potatoes, and bake smoked ham.
They also bake Easter cakes, but they look different from ours - they are much lower and more reminiscent of cupcakes. The top of the Easter cakes is decorated with colored mastic, sesame seeds and almonds.

Traditional entertainment for Easter

Celebrating Easter in the United Kingdom is always fun, bright and colorful. One day in the United Kingdom they decided to entertain not only children, but also adults, inviting them to play an Easter egg hunt. Large fiberglass eggs measuring 76 cm in size were installed in the city; eminent designers had a hand in their production. They also provided hints in the form of specially issued maps and mobile phone applications. Anyone could arm themselves with them and go on a “hunt.” The lucky person who collected the most of these eggs was given an Easter gift of 100 thousand dollars.
There is also a tradition of a bonnet parade in Battersea Park. Every year on Easter, ladies gather there wearing exclusively handmade hats, decorated with flowers and ribbons.
And in the town of Radley, not far from Oxford, the tradition of hugging the temple on Easter is carefully preserved. The congregation forms a tight circle around the perimeter of the church, joining hands and hugging the structure.

An interesting tradition on this day in the UK are the Easter Dancers, or Morris Dancers. These are men who dress up in Robin Hood costumes and dance in the streets, in parks, near churches.
Like us, at Easter in Great Britain they like to play cue ball - each participant picks up an egg and hits his opponents' eggs with it. The one whose egg remains intact will be the winner. The British also love to play egg rolling: participants in this entertainment launch eggs from a hillock, and whose egg reaches the bottom first wins.

Queen's Easter Alms

The celebration of Easter in Great Britain differs from other countries in that the queen rules there, and it is she who distributes royal alms on this day - Royal Moundy. This tradition has a long history, starting in the 13th century. During this ceremony, the reigning monarch (currently Elizabeth II) rewards people who have distinguished themselves for special services to their parishes.
Money called Moundy is placed in two wallets - red and white. Regular money is placed in the red wallet, and coins specially issued for this day are placed in the white wallet. The number of these coins corresponds to the age of the monarch. It is a great honor for any resident of Great Britain to receive the Royal Moundy from the hands of the Queen.
There was another tradition in Great Britain, but it has not survived to this day - the washing of the feet of the poor by royalty. This tradition was invented as a reminder of the evangelical Last Supper, when Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciples.

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Usually Catholic Easter is celebrated a week earlier than Orthodox Easter, but this year the difference was almost 5 weeks. On March 27, the entire Catholic world celebrates Bright Sunday, and we invite you to learn about the interesting traditions and customs of Catholic Easter in Great Britain.

If the Russian word “Easter” takes its roots from the Hebrew “Pesach” (literally meaning “exodus”), then the English word “ Easter" has different roots and takes its derivative from the goddess of spring and fertility, Eostre ( Eostre ).

For the entire Christian world, this day means not only a joyful event, but also the end of a strict long fast, which is why festivities, fairs, and street food festivals are held on the streets of London. By the way, in the UK there are two-week school holidays for Easter, and Friday and Monday are public holidays.

Another interesting event in modern London at Easter is the Easter bonnet parade ( Easter Parade), which traditionally takes place in Battersea Park, and where women show off beautiful headdresses, embroidered or decorated with flowers. The roots of this tradition go back to the Middle Ages, when it was customary to hold weddings on Easter. Of course, all the brides tried to preen themselves and put a beautiful hat on their heads ( Easter bonnet ).

Where does the Easter Bunny come from?

Just 10 years ago, such a typical symbol for Western countries as the Easter bunny was completely unknown in Russia. Now on supermarket shelves, on postcards and in the windows of fashion stores you can see beautiful spring installations in which the main decor is a rabbit or Easter bunny.

Where does Catholics have such love for this fluffy and cute animal?

There are two theories explaining the origin of this symbol. According to one of them, the roots go deep into paganism. The hare was the faithful companion of Eostre, the goddess of spring and fertility. The rabbit is a symbol of fertility, continuation and rebirth of life.

According to the second version, the idea of ​​the Easter bunny was brought to America by German emigrants in the 17th century. The children believed that for good behavior and obedience, the rabbit would definitely bring them chocolate eggs on this spring day. In Germany, a fertile rabbit symbolized a well-fed, rich life and, of course, procreation. One way or another, this tradition is firmly rooted in America and Western Europe, and now children all over the world leave their hats on the windowsill, near the bed or in the living room on the night before Easter, so that they can quickly run to them in the morning in the hope of seeing chocolate or marzipan ones there. eggs.

Now in the Western Catholic world, the hare is the main decoration and attribute of any festive table on this bright day. Souvenirs made of ceramics and plastic, chocolate figurines and cookies in the shape of this fluffy animal can be bought in every store on the eve of Easter.

Maundy Thursday.

The Thursday before Easter is called in England "Maundy Thursday". According to the New Testament, it was on this day that Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciples with the words “Love your neighbor as I have loved you.” It is noteworthy that in Great Britain there used to be a tradition of royalty washing the feet of the poor as a sign of humility and recognition of Jesus Christ. For this special occasion, two poor people were chosen to receive this great honor. But this peculiar tradition was interrupted by King James II in the 17th century.

Now this tradition has been supplanted "Royal Maundy", which represents the distribution of royal alms. The Queen gives out special coins, not to ordinary poor people, but to those who have earned the respect of the church parish. They are given two wallets, white and red. The white wallet contains "Maundy Money", and in red - money to buy gifts.

Good Friday.

Unlike the Orthodox tradition, when on this day it is customary not to cook anything, not have fun and not make noise, in the Catholic world Good Friday is called "Good Friday"(“good Friday”) Linguists believe that this day owes its name to "God's Friday"(Divine Friday), which was later changed. It is on this day that Easter celebrations begin throughout the country. Large companies and government agencies do not work, and at three o'clock in the afternoon a large church service is held throughout the country, because this is the time that is considered the hour of the death of Jesus Christ.

On Good Friday, housewives prepare an Easter treat, but Saturday is considered a family day in the UK. Many people go to the cemetery where relatives are buried to decorate the grave with flowers.

In England there are interesting beliefs associated with "Good Friday" :

• A child born on Good Friday is considered protected from evil spirits and will enjoy good health.
• Bun baked in Good Friday– cures many diseases.
• On this day they do not start large projects, do business, do not work in the fields, do not go to sea.

What's on the holiday table?

Unlike our Russian “Easter” or “Kulich”, on the English table there must be butter buns with a cut in the form of a cross on top, into which sugar icing is then poured after cooling (“ hot cross buns"). This delicacy is baked on Friday and filled with raisins, candied fruits, nuts and dried fruits. Buns are distributed in the morning to relatives, neighbors, friends, and just random passers-by with wishes of health.

If you are invited to a traditional English table for Easter, then among the obligatory dishes you can see baked pork ham, meatballs in honey-garlic sauce, glazed baked apples, and, of course, eggs. Although the tradition of painting them is not so widespread in the UK, and the dish will most likely contain sweet chocolate eggs or cookies of this shape.

In England and America, it is not customary to “Christ”; this is our Slavic tradition, so the locals may not understand you if you suddenly decide to greet them in this way. But the tradition of breaking eggs and seeing who has the whole and unbroken eggs still exists in this country. On the streets on this day, many companies and entertainment venues organize competitions and entertainment, where, of course, the main symbol is eggs.

If you want to celebrate Easter in the traditional English style, we advise you to make Simnel fruitcake, without which no Easter lunch in the UK is complete. Subscribe to our news and don’t miss new useful materials that will allow you to better understand the culture, traditions of this country and, of course, advance in learning English.

— Christ is risen! (Christ is risen!)
— He is risen indeed! (Truly Risen!)

This is what the Easter greeting looks like translated into English. It is well known that Easter is a very significant holiday for Christians around the world. In this article I would like to talk about this important day, while learning new words in English. The dictionary of this article will help you, if necessary, talk about this holiday in English as your favorite one. Thus, today we have to find out how the words relating to Holy Easter and its traditions sound in English.

Easter in English is called Easter — [ˈi:stə] — [ˈi: ste] or a version closer to us - Pasch. You can hear another name for this holiday Resurrection Sunday, which translated means “Resurrection of the Resurrection of Christ.”

We speak English about Holy Easter

Jesus Christ - Jesus Christ Easter - it’s a big religious holiday, because Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The date of celebrating changes every year. It falls on one of spring Sundays. Seven weeks before Easter — it is the Lent. People must not eat the animal products and meal 7 weeks.

People prepare for the celebration during the last week, which we name Holy Week. Of course, the customs related to this day are different in every country. For example, Easter cakes and Easter eggs are the traditional food in several countries. Women bake Paskhas on Friday, this day was called Good (or Holy) Friday. It’s really an important day for many Christians, because Jesus Christ was crucified on this day. Jesus" sacrifice was made for us. It’s a day when people say the prayers of thanksgiving and sing solemn hymns.

On Saturday women dye the eggs. Red color is traditional color of eggs, but this tradition changed a little bit. Nowadays we can see on the Easter table the eggs of different colors. In the Saturday evening, Christian people go to church. The Easter mass lasts all night. The priest consecrates the food in the morning. People go home for breakfast after the ceremony. The first food that they eat is the blessed food. It is the time, when relatives visits each other.

Translation

Easter eggs Easter is a major religious holiday as Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The date of the celebration changes every year. It falls on one of the spring Sundays. The seven weeks before Easter were called Great Lent. People should not eat animal products or meat for 7 weeks.

During the last week, which we call Holy Week, people prepare. Of course, the customs associated with this day are different in each country. For example, Easter cakes and Easter eggs are traditional foods in several countries. Women bake Easter cakes on Friday - a day that was called Good (or Holy) Friday. This is a really important day for many Christians because Jesus Christ was crucified on this day. Jesus' sacrifice was made for us. It is a day when people say prayers of thanksgiving and sing celebratory hymns.

On Saturday women paint eggs. Red is the traditional color of eggs, but traditions have changed somewhat. Today we can see eggs of various colors on the Easter table. On Saturday evening Christians go to church. The service lasts all night. In the morning the priest blesses the food. People go home to have breakfast after the ceremony. The first food they eat is holy food.

This is the time when loved ones visit each other.

The Easter Bunny is part of the holiday

Easter Bunny The Easter Bunny is a part of the holiday in USA and some other countries.
Over the last 200, the Easter Bunny became the most recognized symbol of Easter. Rabbit brings baskets with colored eggs and sweets to the homes, where good children live on the night before Resurrection Sunday. The bunny is like Santa Claus. It’s just a beautiful legend or fable for the children, but the rabbit became an important tradition. We can see it on Easter postcards.

The Easter Bunny is part of this holiday in the United States and some other countries. Over the past 200 years, the Easter Bunny has become the most recognizable symbol of Easter. The rabbit brings baskets of colorful eggs and sweets to houses where obedient children live on the night before the Resurrection of Christ. Rabbit is like Santa Claus. It's just a beautiful legend or fiction for children, but the rabbit has become an important tradition. We can see it on Easter cards.

Dictionary

Easter in the UK- This is one of the most important holidays. As throughout the Christian world, people celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But the English holiday also has its own peculiarity. The fact is that English Easter was considered a holiday several centuries before the spread of Christianity in the territory of the modern United Kingdom. According to one of the common versions of theological scientists, the English word Easter, meaning Easter, comes from Eostre, the name of the Saxon goddess of dawn and spring. The British celebrate Easter Day after the vernal equinox on one of the Sundays before April 25th. The exact date of the holiday is calculated according to complex ancient canonical rules.

Easter in the UK Traditionally, celebrations begin on Thursday evening, the day of the Last Supper. In London the Queen gives Easter gifts distinguished senior citizens. They receive special red and white wallets specially made for this date. The red ones contain regular money, and the white ones contain commemorative coins minted specially for Easter.

On Easter Friday, solemn prayer services are held in all churches, reminding Christians of the suffering of Jesus. On this day, it is customary to bake special buns with raisins, candied fruits or currants as filling, and with a lot of spices in the dough. The top of the bun is cut in the shape of a cross, and the buns are called cross buns. The burning sensation in the mouth from the spices symbolizes the memory of the suffering of Christ. Today's cross, which decorates buns, has become a symbol of resurrection, but long before the spread of Christianity, it also decorated round-shaped baked goods and symbolized fire, the sun and the four seasons.

On the morning of Easter Sunday, Christians come to the church and watch the sunrise near it. A large Easter candle is lit in the church, into which dozens of pins are stuck, as a symbol of the wounds of Christ. It is carried through the entire church so that each parishioner lights his own candle from it.

What gifts are given at Easter in the UK?

One of the Easter symbols of Great Britain is painted eggs. Their red color is a symbol of the blood of Jesus, and their green color is a symbol of holiness.

Modern Englishmen as Easter gifts they prefer to receive and give chocolate eggs, which contain various small candies inside. Children's favorite pastime on this day: hunting for Easter chocolate eggs, which adults hide in advance in secluded places, both in the house and in the garden.

Another common and favorite symbol of Easter is the rabbit. It is he who, according to legend, brings eggs for good and obedient children.
However, searching for Easter eggs is not just children's fun. Once in London they organized a “hunt” for adults. The city installed large, 76 cm in size fiberglass eggs made by the most famous designers. And everyone could take part in their search using hints on specially issued maps or in an application for mobile phones. The one who found the largest number of eggs received Easter gifts- 100 thousand dollars.
In the town of Radley near Oxford, the ancient Easter tradition of hugging the temple is carefully preserved. Christians form a tight circle near the church and join hands.
Battersea Park hosts the annual traditional hat parade: ladies wear only handmade hats, with ribbons and flowers.