The previous part of the story about Easter is here.

Easter is the time for holidays, festivals and a time for giving chocolate Easter eggs. But Easter means much more. It is the oldest and the most important Christian Festival, the celebration of the death and coming to life again of Jesus Christ. For Christians, the dawn of Easter Sunday with its message of new life is the high point of the year.

The story

Easter is the story of Jesus’ last days in Jerusalem before his death. The Easter story includes Maundy Thursday (the Last supper leading to the Eucharist), Good Friday (the day on which Jesus was crucified) and Easter Sunday (the day on which Jesus came back to life).

When is Easter?

Easter usually comes in the month of April. It is what is called a “moveable feast” because the date of it is fixed according to the moon. Easter Sunday has to be the first Sunday following the full moon, after the Spring equinox (March 21) — the Paschal Full Moon. This means that Easter can fall as early as March 22 or as late as April 25.

When does Easter fall in 2006?

In 2006, Easter Sunday is on April 16th.

Palm Sunday ( Passio n Sun day)

Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week. Holy Week is the week before Easter, commemorating events in the last days of Christ’s life. It begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Monday. Holy Week is the last week of Lent.

Special Days in Holy Week

• Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday), the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem.

• Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday), Last Supper and the betrayal by Judas.

• Good Friday (Holy Friday), the arrest, trial, crixifiction, death and burial of Jesus Christ.

• Holy Saturday, the Sabbath on which Jesus rested in the grave.

Palm Sunday is a time of celebration as well as sadness because Jesus died on a cross less than a week after He had entered Jerusalem.

What is Palm Sunday?

The Sunday before Easter is known as Palm Sunday. It marks the end of Lent and celebrates Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem for the Jewish festival of Passover. Great crowds of people lined the streets waving palm branches to welcome Him. The people were very excited. They spread branches on the road – and even laid down their clothes. They shouted “Hosanna!” which means “Save us Now!”

What happens on Palm Sunday in England?

On Palm Sunday, children are given crosses made from single palm leaves. Traditionally, many churches will have a procession in or around the church while people sing songs of praise and wave palm leaves. This is to help them imagine what Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem might have been like.

What happens to any Palm crosses left over?

Any left over Palm Crosses are kept and burned to make ashes for next years Ash Wednesday services (see Ash Wednesday above).

Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday)

On this day, Christians remember the Last Supper. During the meal Jesus took bread and wine and shared them with His disciples. Christians continue to share bread and wine as part of their worship in church. The night of Maundy Thursday is the night on which Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane.

When is Maundy Thursday?

Maundy Thursday is the day before Good Friday. It is one of the lesser known days of the Christian calendar and, were it not for the Maundy Ceremony, would probably have fallen into disuse altogether.

What is the origins of the name Maundy?

The name “Maundy” is derived from the Latin word maundatum (command) and recalls Christ’s words at the Last Supper: “And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

The washing of feet

During the Last Supper, Jesus washed His disciples' feet. This act has sometimes been followed literally in history as a good way of reminding rulers that they are here to serve their subjects.

What happens in England on Maundy Thursday?

In England, the custom of washing feet by the Monach was preserved until 1689. Up until then the King or Queen would wash the feet of the poor on Maundy Thursday in Westminster Abbey. (You should, however note, that the feet were first washed by Yeoman of the Laundry before the monarch had to wash them and kiss them!) Food and clothing were also handed out to the poor.

What is Maundy Money?

Gradually over the years the foot washing and the gift of clothing has been replaced by specially minted Maundy money. (Maundy coins are specially minted for the occasion and are legal tender and, as they are produced in such limited numbers, they are much sought after by collectors.)

Maundy Thursday Ceremony

In England today, the Queen attends a service in one of the many cathedrals through out the country, to distribute the Maundy Money. The Queen is accompanied by a Yeomen of the Guard, who carries a golden tray of Maundy Money in white leather purses, and the “Maundy children” who are selected from local schools to attend her. Everyone carries posies (“nosegays”) of flowers – a traditional protection at the time of the Great Plague. (King Charles 1 distributed his Maundy coins in 1639 during an outbreak of the plague.)

The number of purses handed out is equal to the age of the monarch. In 2005, to mark Queen Elizabeth’s 79th year, 79 men and 79 women will each receive two purses containing special Maundy coins.

Good Friday (Holy Friday)

When is Good Friday?

Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday. On this day, Christians remember the day when Jesus was crucified on a cross. The date of Good Friday changes every year.

Why is it called Good Friday?

The name may be derived from “God’s Friday” in the same way that good-bye is derived from “God be with ye”. It is “good” because the barrier of sin was broken.

What happened on Good Friday?

Jesus was arrested and was tried, in a mock trial. He was handed over to the Roman soldiers to be beaten and flogged with whips. A crown of long, sharp thorns was thrust upon His head. Jesus was forced to carry His own cross outside the city to Skull Hill. He was so weak after the beating that a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was pulled from the crowd and forced to carry Jesus’ cross the rest of the way. Jesus was nailed to the cross. Two other criminals were crucified with Him, their crosses were on either side of Him. A sign above Jesus read “The King of the Jews.” Christians believe that Jesus stood in our place. His death paid the penalty not for His own wrong doings but for ours.

What happens on Good Friday today?

Good Friday is a public holiday in much of the UK. Some Christians fast (go without food) on Good Friday. This helps them remember the sacrifice Jesus made for them on the day of crucifixion. Many churches hold a special service. This may be a communion service in the evening or a time of prayer during the day, especially around 3 o’clock as that is about the time of day when Jesus died. Many Churches hold services lasting three hours. They may celebrate the Stations of the Cross, or take part in Passion plays and dramatic readings. Some Christians take part in a procession of witness, carrying a cross through the streets and then into church. Churches are not decorated on Good Friday. In some churches, pictures and statues are covered over. It is seen as a time of mourning.

Good Friday traditions

Traditionally Good Friday was the day when everything was cleaned and whitewashed in preparation for Easter Sunday.

Holy Saturday

What happened on the day before Easter Sunday?

This day was the Sabbath and the day which Jesus rested in the grave.

When is Holy Saturday?

It is the Saturday before Easter, the last day of Lent and is the day when Christ’s body lay in His Tomb. In the early church Holy Saturday was a day of fasting and preparation for the Easter Vigil. 

Easter Vigil

Easter Vigil, dating back to at least the Roman times, takes place on Holy Saturday. The Easter Vigil is a service held in many Christian churches as the official celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The service includes the first use of the word alleluia since the beginning of Lent as well as the first Eucharist of Easter. The Easter Vigil is celebrated by the use of a wax candle which is inscribed with a cross. The letters alpha and omega are inscribed at the top and bottom and the four numbers representing the current year are inscribed above and below the cross arms. Five grains representing the wounds of Christ are sometimes pushed into the soft wax.

Traditional Holy Saturday event

The Bacup Nutters Dance traitionally takes place on this day in the small Pennine town of Bacup. Each year a team of folk-dancers with blackened faces dance through the town from boundary to boundary. A form of morris dancing, the blackened faces may either reflect a need for the dancers to disguise their faces from evil spirits, or have a mining connection. The tradition of this dance is thought to date back to 1857.

Easter Sunday

Easter Day is the high point of the festival. A day of parties, gift-giving and above all a celebration that Jesus rose from the dead and lives forever.

The date of Easter

It changes every year. Easter Day in 2006 falls on Sunday, April 16, 2006.

What happened on Easter Sunday?

It was on Easter Sunday that Jesus rose from death. Jesus had told his disciples before he was arrested that he would be crucified and on the third day he would rise from the dead. Sunday was the third day from Good Friday.

What happens on Easter Sunday today?

Christians gather together on Easter Sunday for a Sunrise Service. This service takes place on a hill side so everyone can see the sun rise. Some Christians take part in an Easter vigil, lighting a new fire outside the church early on Sunday morning. The Paschal candal, 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. The Easter Eucharist is a particularly joyful service. It is a popular time for baptisms and renewal of baptism vows.

Why do we give Easter eggs?

Eggs are a forbidden food during Lent, making them a welcome return to the menu on Easter Day. For Christians, Easter eggs symbolise new life. They believe that, through His resurrection, Jesus defeated death and sin and offers people the promise of eternal life if they follow His teachings. Eggs have been a symbol of continuing life and resurrection since pre-Christian spring celebrations. Eggs had a religious significance in many ancient civilizations. Egyptians buried eggs in their tombs as did the Greeks. A Roman proverb states, “All life comes from an egg”.

The traditional egg gift

The first eggs given at Easter were birds eggs. These eggs were painted in bright colours to give them further meaning as a gift. As chocolate was becoming more wide spread in the 20th Century, a chocolate version of the traditional egg was developed. The size of the chocolate egg has grown over the years and is now more likely to be the size of an ostrich egg rather than a small birds egg.

Easter presents

Chocolate eggs are given to children. 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.

Easter Egg Hunt

Small chocolate eggs are hidden for the children to find on the traditional Easter Egg Hunt. In recent years this game has been linked to the Easter Bunny, which only arrived in Britain relatively recently.

Pace egging

Easter eggs are sometimes known as pace eggs, a name that is ultimately derived from Pesach (Passover). All kinds of fun are had with the hard-boiled decorated pace eggs. The background colour of the eggs is provided by onion skins, with designs created by leaves and flowers placed next to the shell.

Origins of colouring eggs at Easter

Decorating and colouring eggs for Easter was a common custom in England in the middle ages. Eggs were brightly coloured to mimic the new, fresh colours of spring. The practice of decorating eggs was made even more famous by King Edward I of England who ordered 450 eggs to be gold-leafed and coloured for Easter gifts in 1290.

Egg rolling

Egg rolling is very popular in England and is an Easter Monday sport. Hard-boiled eggs are rolled down a hill. Customs differ from place to place. The winner’s egg may be the one that rolls the farthest, survives the most rolls, or is rolled between two pegs.

Egg jarping (egg tapping)

Another activity that takes place on Easter Day is the playing of a game with the eggs known as “jarping”. It’s a bit like playing conkers, with players tapping their opponents’ eggs until one breaks. The victor goes through to the next round and it’s a process of elimination until there’s only one good egg, the winner’s, left.

Easter Monday

Easter Monday is another public holiday in much of the UK, has little religious significance but is the occasion for numerous secular customs.

Biddenden Dole

At Biddenden in Kent, the Biddenden Dole, in the form of bread, cheese, tea (formerly beer) and cake is distributed. The cake bears an image of two women said to be the founders of this charity, a pair of Siamese twins who were born in 1100 and died within a few hours of each other at the age of 34.

Hare Pie Scramble and Bottle Kicking

At Hallaton in Leicestershire, the Hare Pie Scramble and Bottle Kicking begins with the blessing of a pie (usually made with beef rather than hare), which is subsequently broken up and thrown to the assembled crowd. This is followed by an unruly football game between the village of Hallaton and Medbourne. Small wooden barrels filled with ail are used as rugby balls in the no-holds barrel contest, the object of which is to get each of the three casks to a touchline in either village.

Events in London on Easter Monday

Easter Parade — Battersea Park, London The first parade occurred in 1885 to encourage drivers to take a humane view of their horses. Today a huge variety of vehicles can be seen in action from rarely used horse drawn fire engines to the Harrods delivery “unicorn” which is used every day.

Harness Horse Parade – Regent’s Park, London