EASTER IN ENGLAND

The celebration of Easter begins on Friday (Good Friday) and ends on Monday (Easter Monday), but unlike the Polish tradition here on Monday all the stores are already open, then the sales are in progress. The blessing of food is not known here, on Saturday street festivals are popular in cities.

The history of the Easter tradition in Great Britain dates back to the times when Christianity was not yet known. The name Easter comes from the name of the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring - Eostre. Her main symbols were happiness, birth and fertility. Formerly Easter of Easter in the Celtic countries were associated with the farewell of cold days and the welcome of the spring aura.

For this occasion, a large bonfire was lit to chase away the winter. In addition, the end of the fast was also an opportunity to celebrate. In the seventeenth century there was a custom of giving money on Holy Thursday. Today, this tradition looks different. During the annual Royal Maundy ceremony, the Queen gives her deserved women and men (number of people depends on the Queen's age) with red and white wallets. In their interior there are coins minted for the occasion - a symbol of merit for society.

At Easter, the British have days off work. In Poland it is Good Friday, on the Islands - Good Friday. In Poland, the last day of Easter is known to all "Dyngus Śmingus". In England, the celebration ends on Monday, but English tradition is not used in the British lands, here is celebrated Easter Monday.

The main symbol of this holiday in the United Kingdom is the "Easter Bunny". For children, it is a symbol of gifts - sweets.

On Sunday the British, like us, spend with family and friends. In the traditional British houses, breakfast with a lot of egg dishes is still popular. If the weather permits, family picnics are usually chosen.

In the United Kingdom, as in many countries, Easter is closely related to eggs.

In some parts of the UK, residents have a very interesting habit. This is a competition in rolling eggs from the hill. It also has a Christian reference. Rolling the egg symbolizes discovering the stone to the grotto in which the body of the crucified Jesus was resting. Eventually, the person whose egg survives the game wins.

The Brits have given up colorful eggs for chocolate eggs some time ago.

In addition to popular chocolate eggs, you can buy scones with a cross, baked specially for the occasion. Simnel cake - cake covered with a layer of marzipan mass. You can get to know them after 11 marzipan balls placed on top. Why exactly this number? Because of the apostles, without Judas, there were eleven. The British believe that for their behavior, this disciple of Jesus does not deserve any sweets.

Hot cross buns - traditional yeast buns with raisins, orange and lots of spices

Hot cross buns

Simnel cake - light fruit cake in marzipan glaze:

Popular Easter games:

Egg hunt

EGG HUNT - a fun game that involves children looking for chocolate eggs in the garden, hidden earlier among grass, shrubs and even trees by their parents. The child who wins the most is the winner. The search for eggs takes place on the morning of Easter Sunday.

ROLLING EGGS - it is nothing but rolling eggs from above, the one whose egg breaks last will win.

egg roll

PACE - EGGING - this game is based on the fact that children in England go home from home at Easter and ask for chocolate eggs. And in exchange for receiving them, they sing a song in which they promise not to appear to the person until the next Easter.

by Olwia Laskowska
and Oliwia Trzeciak