Hoppy Easter! Fun Facts About Easter in the UK 🐣🇬🇧

Easter in the UK is a time of colourful traditions, chocolatey treats, and a welcome sign that spring has truly sprung. From ancient customs to modern-day celebrations, there’s a lot more to Easter than just eggs and bunnies! Here are some fun and fascinating facts about how Easter is celebrated across the UK.

1. Easter is a Moveable Feast

Easter doesn’t fall on a fixed date. Instead, it’s celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon following the spring equinox. That means Easter Sunday can fall anytime between 22 March and 25 April.

2. A Four-Day Weekend

Brits get to enjoy a long weekend thanks to Good Friday and Easter Monday being bank holidays. That means plenty of time for family get-togethers, egg hunts, and roast dinners!

3. Hot Cross Buns Have Deep Roots

These spiced buns with their signature icing cross have been enjoyed since the 12th century. Traditionally eaten on Good Friday, the cross symbolises the crucifixion of Jesus, while the spices represent the spices used in burial.

4. The UK Loves Its Easter Eggs

Chocolate eggs became popular in the UK during the 19th century, and they’ve been a staple ever since. Today, Brits buy more than 80 million chocolate eggs each year – that’s more than one per person!

5. Simnel Cake: A Slice of History

Less well-known than the Easter egg but just as traditional is Simnel Cake – a fruit cake topped with marzipan. It was originally associated with Mothering Sunday but is now also linked to Easter, decorated with 11 marzipan balls to represent the faithful apostles (minus Judas!).

6. Egg Rolling is a Real Thing

Some towns in the UK, like Preston in Lancashire, host egg rolling competitions on Easter Sunday. Hard-boiled eggs are rolled down hills – the furthest roller wins! It’s believed to symbolise the rolling away of the stone from Jesus’s tomb.

7. Morris Dancing and Maypoles

In some parts of the country, traditional English folk dancing makes an appearance at Easter. Morris dancers in colourful costumes and bells on their shins perform lively routines to celebrate the season.

8. The Queen Gave Out Money (Yes, Really!)

The Royal Maundy is a centuries-old tradition where the monarch distributes special coins to selected pensioners on Maundy Thursday. The number of recipients matches the monarch’s age – and yes, King Charles is carrying on the tradition.

9. Lincolnshire’s Own Traditions

Here in Lincolnshire, Easter is often marked with local fairs, craft markets, and church services, plus the return of bustling spring garden events. Many families enjoy countryside walks or a visit to the coast – weather permitting, of course!

10. A Season of New Beginnings

Easter isn’t just a Christian celebration; it’s also a season of renewal and hope, linked with the arrival of spring. Flowers bloom, lambs are born, and nature wakes up from its winter nap – it's a time for fresh starts and new life.

Whether you’re tucking into a chocolate egg, enjoying a spring stroll, or baking your own batch of hot cross buns, there’s something truly special about Easter in the UK. However you choose to celebrate, we wish you a joyful and peaceful Easter season!

Happy Easter from all of us! 🐰🌷