COME TO CHURCH THIS EASTER What do the Easter holidays mean to you?

FROM ANCIENT TRADITIONS TO MODERN PRACTICES EVERYONE’S EASTER WEEKEND IS DIFFERENT. ROOTED IN TRADITIONAL VALUES AND STORIES THERE’S PLENTY TO ENJOY .... EASTER is traditionally family and the promise of spiritual Traditionally the eggs were back to the 12th century, when time – a long weekend to get renewal and redemption. decorated with paint – with the an Anglican monk baked the together and celebrate with a big Today the Easter bonnet is a favourite colour being red to buns and marked them with a family meal and a trip to church. special hat that women and girls symbolise the colour of lifeblood. cross to honour Good Friday.

Every family will have different wear to Easter services, which Simnel cake is similar to a traditions, from decorating an are often new and elaborate There is also further Christmas cake on paper, and extravagant Easter bonnet to designs. With many people using symbolism in decorating eggs this traditional dessert is an indulging in copious amounts the end of Lent to buy luxury in their hard shell, symbolising important part of the Easter of chocolate after giving it up for items. the sealed tomb of Christ, which feast. lent. Children usually have a widebrimmed when cracked links to his rise This light fruit cake is covered hat with a pastelcoloured from the dead. in marzipan, with 11 marzipan ribbon, and may have While the Christians fasted balls to represent Jesus’ disciples flowers and other spring-related during lent, the number of – excluding Judas, who betrayed items adorning the rim. The hat eggs that were going spare in Jesus. may also match a special outfit the weeks leading up to Easter Roast lamb is a hugely that they have chosen for the meant there were many to spare. symbolic foodstuff in day. Christianity, as well as a delicious focal point of any family roast. Commonly eaten at Passover by the Jews, it was carried over to Easter by those who converted to Christianity.

It is also likely to have been what Jesus ate at his last meal before the crucifixion.

Jesus was also referred to as the ‘‘Lamb of God” so it makes sense that this meat should show up on the Easter table.