E aster in Britain

At Easter time in the UK we have two bank holidays (public holidays): Good Friday and Easter Monday. This means that many families can enjoy a long weekend together.

Good Friday (Holy Friday)

Wh a t i s G ood Fr id a y ?
On Good Friday, Christians remember the day when Jesus was crucified on a cross.

When is Good Friday?

Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday (Easter Day). The date of Good Friday changes every year.

Why is it called Good Friday?

The name comes from 'God's Friday'.

What happened on Good Friday?

Jesus is arrested by the Roman soldiers. They hit and hurt him and they put a crown made of thorns on his head. Jesus carries his cross from the city to Skull Hill. Jesus is nailed to the cross. Two other criminals are crucified with him. Their crosses were on either side of him. A sign above Jesus reads "The King of the Jews."

What happens on Good Friday today?

Good Friday today is a public holiday in much of the UK. This means that many businesses are closed.

Fasting Some Christians fast (go without food) on Good Friday. This remembers the sacrifice Jesus made for them on the day of crucifixion. Procession Some Christians take part in a procession, carrying a cross through the streets and then into church. Special Church Service Many churches hold a special service. This can be a communion service in the evening or a time of prayer during the day, especially around 3 o'clock because that is about the time of day when Jesus dies. Many church services last three hours. Churches are not decorated on Good Friday. In some churches, pictures and statues are covered.

Traditional Food
It is traditional to eat warm 'hot cross buns' on Good Friday. Hot Cross Buns with their combination of spicy, sweet and fruity flavours are an Easter tradition. Why do we eat Hot Cross Buns ? The pastry cross on top of the buns symbolises Jesus cross.

Hot Cross Buns

People usually eat them at breakfast time, hot from the oven. Street vendors sell them in the streets and they sing a little song about them. "Hot cross buns, Hot cross buns, One a penny, two a penny, Hot cross buns."

Other traditional Good Friday food

It is traditional to eat fish on Good Friday instead of meat.

Easter Monday
Easter Monday, another UK Public Holiday, has little religious significance but is the occasion for numerous secular customs, especially many curious sports contests and competitions

Egg rolling
Egg rolling is very popular in England and the rest of the UK and is an Easter Monday sport. Hard-boiled eggs are rolled down a hill. Customs differ from place to place. The winner's egg may be the one that rolls the farthest, survives the most rolls, or is rolled between two pegs.

World Coal Carrying Championship

On Easter Monday, The World Coal Carrying Championship takes place in the village of Gawthorpe, in Yorkshire. Contestants run for one mile, carrying a 50kg bag of coal.

London Harness Horse Parade

The first parade was in 1885 to encourage drivers to take a humane view of their horses. Today the participants use a huge variety of vehicles from rarely used horse drawn fire engines to the Harrods delivery unicorn which is used every day.

Comprehension Questions
1. Which of the two festivities has a more religious meaning? 2. What is the meaning of the verb to fast? 3. When is Good Friday? Is there a fixed date for this festivity?

4. Are the rules of the game of Egg Rolling the same all over Britain?
5. What does the cross on the hot cross buns represent? 6. Where do people usually buy these buns? 7. When do they usually eat them? 8. When was the first London Harness Horse Parade celebrated? 9. How much coal do the participants carry in the Coal Carrying Championship? 10. Where is it celebrated?

11. Churches are specially decorated for the celebrations of Good Friday in Britain. True or false? 12. 13. Who arrested Jesus? In which hill was he crucified?