Easter in Britain

At Easter many people attend Church services and receive Communion (those that are not regular churchgoers at other times). The Church is usually lavishly decorated with flowers in the traditional spring colours of yellow, white and green. Easter lilies are also scattered around the altar.

Elaborate bonnets and outfits are worn in Easter parades in Britain, including the famous one at Battersea Park in London. Easter Monday is a favourite day for funfairs with rides and roundabouts, one of the oldest traditionally being held on London's Hampstead Heath. Coming as it did after the long fast of Lent, Easter was traditionally a season of feasting. The classic British Easter food is the Easter egg.

As an apparently inanimate object, which nevertheless contains the source of new life, the egg is an ancient and universal symbol of spring's re-awakening. This symbol was adopted by Christians to signify the Resurrection, and some Christians also regard the egg as a symbol of the stone rolled away from the entrance to Christ's sepulcher.

In Britain today chocolate Easter Eggs, often filled with candies, are given to relatives and friends, and especially to children. Another great favourite are Hot Cross Buns, now eaten throughout the Easter season, these were first baked in England to be served on Good Friday. They tend to be small, spicy buns containing raisins or currants and sometimes chopped candied fruit. Before baking, a cross is marked on the top of the bun.