Easter in the UK: Bizarre Traditions, Hidden History & Fun Facts You Didn’t Know!
Forget everything you thought you knew about Easter Sunday! In the UK, Easter isn’t just about chocolate eggs and bank holiday lie-ins. Oh no, we take things to a whole new level - rolling eggs down hills, setting things on fire, banning hot cross buns, and even smashing eggs against each other in a weird competition.
So, if you’re wondering, "What is Easter really about?" or looking for the quirkiest Easter ideas to impress your mates, this post is for you. Plus, we’ll dive into the history, the myths, and how Brits celebrate today. Get ready for some amazing facts as we uncover the UK’s wildest Easter traditions!
The History of Easter: From Ancient Traditions to Chocolate Eggs
Easter is one of the biggest holidays in the UK, but have you ever stopped to wonder why we celebrate Easter in the first place? Sure, today, it’s all about chocolate eggs, bank holidays, and big roast dinners, but Easter has been around for over 2,000 years, and its history is filled with religion, myths, and even a few surprises.
Easter’s Ancient Beginnings: Pagan Festivals & Spring Celebrations
Long before Easter Sunday was marked on calendars, people were already celebrating spring, new life, and the changing of seasons. In many ancient cultures, spring was a symbol of rebirth, and celebrations were held to mark the return of longer, warmer days.
One of the biggest influences on Easter’s origins was the festival of Eostre, an Anglo-Saxon celebration named after a goddess of fertility and dawn. She was often depicted with a hare and was associated with springtime renewal. Some historians believe that our modern Easter Bunny may have roots in these old traditions.
Other early spring festivals that may have influenced Easter include:
- The Roman Festival of Hilaria – Celebrated around March 25th, this was a time of joy, games, and honouring the gods.
- The Persian New Year (Nowruz) – A spring festival celebrated for thousands of years, marking the triumph of light over darkness.
- The Jewish Passover (Pesach) – A major holiday that coincides with Easter and celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt.
The Easter Story: Christianity & The Resurrection of Jesus
The Easter we know today is mainly based on Christianity. It marks the events of Holy Week, which follow the final days of Jesus Christ. This story is one of the most important in the Christian faith, and here’s how it unfolds:
- Palm Sunday – Jesus enters Jerusalem and is welcomed by crowds waving palm branches.
- Maundy Thursday – The Last Supper takes place, where Jesus shares a meal with his disciples.
- Good Friday – Jesus is crucified on the cross, marking the most solemn day of Holy Week.
- Easter Sunday – Three days later, Jesus is said to have risen from the dead, symbolising hope, new life, and renewal.
Many of the traditions we associate with Easter today come from Christianity, such as:
- The Easter Cross – A reminder of the crucifixion and resurrection.
- Eggs as a Symbol of New Life – Representing Jesus emerging from the tomb.
- The Easter Feast – A tradition of celebrating new beginnings with a big meal.
Even the 40 days before Easter, known as Lent, have historical roots. Christians use this time to reflect, fast, and prepare for Easter, just as Jesus is believed to have spent 40 days fasting in the desert.
Easter’s Transformation: From Religious Festival to Chocolate Overload
So, how did Easter Sunday go from a serious religious event to the chocolate-fuelled, bunny-filled celebration we know today? Over the centuries, the holiday began to blend traditions - Christian customs, pagan spring festivals, and a good dose of marketing genius.
By the 19th century, chocolate-makers in France and Germany began crafting handmade chocolate eggs, which became hugely popular. When Cadbury introduced the first mass-produced chocolate Easter eggs in 1875, there was no going back. Today, Brits eat over 80 million Easter eggs every year - that’s a LOT of chocolate!
The Easter Bunny also became a global symbol, bringing eggs to children just like Santa delivers presents at Christmas. The tradition is believed to have come from Germany, where tales of an egg-laying hare named "Osterhase" spread across Europe and eventually reached Britain.
So, What Does Easter Mean Today?
Easter has changed over the centuries. Today, it’s a mix of religious reflection, ancient traditions, and modern fun. Some people celebrate by going to church services, while others focus on family feasts, Easter egg hunts, and long weekends away.
However you choose to celebrate, Easter is still about renewal, togetherness, and (let’s be honest) eating far too much chocolate. And with a bank holiday weekend to enjoy, who’s complaining?
When Is Easter 2025? And Why Does the Date Keep Changing?!
Every year, people Google "When is Easter?" - because, let’s be honest, no one ever remembers. Unlike Christmas, which stays put, Easter hops around like an indecisive bunny. So, let’s clear it up:
Easter 2025 Dates:
- Good Friday (bank holiday): April 18th
- Easter Sunday: April 20th
- Easter Monday (bank holiday): April 21st
So, why does Easter move every year? It’s all about the moon. Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. Sounds confusing? That’s because it is. Basically, blame astronomy.
Some fun facts about Easter dates:
- The earliest possible Easter Sunday is March 22nd (very rare).
- The latest it can ever be is April 25th.
- The last time Easter Sunday landed on April 20th was 2014 - so if your birthday is in mid-April, you get extra cake every few years!
The Great Egg Games: Rolling, Tossing & Smashing!
Forget football - egg rolling is the real sport of champions. This bizarre Easter tradition is big in the UK, especially in places like Avenham Park in Preston and Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh. The goal? Roll your hard-boiled egg down a hill and hope it doesn’t crack. Simple, right?
But that’s not all. There are more egg-based traditions in Britain than you’d think:
- Egg Jarping – A game where two players bash their eggs together until one cracks. (Think of it as conkers but with eggs.)
- Egg Tossing – A messy event where people throw eggs as far as possible without breaking them. Spoiler: most people fail.
- Egg Pacing – An old tradition where villagers would carry eggs to their lord as rent payment. Imagine explaining that to your landlord today.
No one knows why the UK became so obsessed with eggs, but they’ve been a symbol of new life for centuries. Plus, let’s be honest, they’re fun to smash.
Flaming Barrels & Other Bizarre UK Easter Traditions
Easter isn’t all about cute bunnies and chocolate. Some places in the UK celebrate in far weirder ways, including setting things on fire. Enter Ottery St Mary, a quiet Devon town that, on Easter, becomes a fiery battleground.
Here’s what happens:
- Locals carry flaming tar barrels through the streets - no safety gear, no explanation, just tradition.
- The event is believed to ward off evil spirits, but honestly, it just looks terrifying.
- It’s been going on for centuries, and no one seems to question it.
And that’s not all. Here are some other weird UK Easter traditions:
- The Whipping Festival – In medieval times, kids would whip each other with willow branches for fun. Not surprisingly, this one died out.
- Hare Pie Scramble – In Leicestershire, people bake a giant pie, then fight over the pieces in a full-blown food battle.
- Easter Clipping – An old custom where people hold hands and surround a church in a giant hug. Cute, but a bit random.
The Secret History of Hot Cross Buns & Simnel Cake
Hot cross buns are delicious, but did you know they were once banned in England? That’s right - back in the 1500s, people believed they had magical powers (which, to be fair, they kind of do). Queen Elizabeth I passed a law saying you could only eat them on Good Friday, Christmas, or funerals. Luckily, we ignored her, and now we eat them all Easter weekend.
Why Do Hot Cross Buns Have a Cross?
- The cross represents Jesus’ crucifixion.
- The spices symbolise the spices used to embalm him (dark, but true).
- In some places, people hang them up all year because they believe they protect the house from evil.
And then there’s Simnel Cake - the forgotten Easter dessert. It’s a spiced fruitcake with a layer of marzipan, and it used to be an Easter must-have. These days, most people don’t even know it exists. (If you do, you’re officially a cake historian.)
The Easter Bunny: Adorable Icon or Creepy Mystery?
Where did the Easter Bunny come from? Why does he bring eggs? And why isn’t he a chicken?
Turns out, the Easter Bunny came from Germany. Back in the 1600s, Germans believed a magical hare delivered eggs to children who had been good. This tradition spread to the UK, and over time, he became the fluffy mascot of Easter Sunday.
Some weird facts about the Easter Bunny:
- In some countries, it’s an Easter fox or an Easter bilby instead of a bunny.
- The largest chocolate Easter bunny ever made weighed over 4,000kg.
- No one knows why a rabbit would lay eggs. Scientists are still baffled!
Keep the Easter Fun Going at Tenpin!
Once the Easter food coma kicks in and the last chocolate egg has mysteriously disappeared, why not keep the long weekend fun going at Tenpin? With locations all over the UK, it’s the perfect place for family-friendly fun after your Easter feast.
Here are a few exciting things waiting for you at Tenpin:
- Bowling – Show off your skills (or just hope for a lucky strike!).
- Karaoke – Belt out your favourite tunes and unleash your inner superstar.
- Laser Tag – Settle those Easter egg disputes with a friendly shootout.
- Arcades – Battle it out on classic and modern games - who will get the highest score?
- Pool & Table Tennis – Chill out with a game before heading home for more Easter chocolate.
- Escape Rooms – Put your brains to the test before the sugar crash hits!
And if you’re celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or just fancy a get-together, Tenpin’s party packages make it easy to turn any occasion into an unforgettable event. Whether it’s a kids’ party, an Easter reunion, or a group challenge in an escape room, you bring the crew, and Tenpin brings the fun!
So, whether you’re burning off all that Easter chocolate or just looking for an exciting day out, Tenpin has something for everyone. Book your visit and keep the Easter fun rolling!