EASTER 2022. In 2002, Easter takes place on Sunday April 17 and Monday is traditionally a public holiday. Do you know why we eat chocolates during this religious holiday and how to organize an egg hunt? All our advice for young and old to prepare for Easter.
When do we celebrate Easter as a family?
Easter is celebrated on Sunday April 17. Easter Monday – public holiday following Easter Sunday – will therefore take place Monday, April 18, 2022. Remember that the dates of the Easter holidays (or spring holidays) depend on each zone. They take place from April 16 to May 2 for zone A; from April 9 to 25 for zone B and from April 23 to May 9 for zone C.
What is Good Friday?
Good Friday, April 15, is the Friday after Palm Sunday. It is the saddest day for Christians as it marks the death of Christ on the cross. It is a public holiday in many Christian countries such as Germany, Spain or Italy, but also in the French departments of Moselle, Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin. During Good Friday, the Catholic Church advises fasting or at least eating sparingly and Stations of the Cross are organized to reproduce the passion of Christ. Generally celebrated at 3 p.m. on Fridays, they consist of reproducing each stage of the death of Jesus.
Why is Easter Monday a public holiday?
In our country of Judeo-Christian tradition, Easter Sunday is especially important because it marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But why is easter monday a holiday when it represents nothing at the religious level? To understand it, you have to go back to the Middle Ages! At the time, the 8 days which followed Easter Sunday, then baptized “Octave of Easter”, were public holidays in order to allow Christians to go to daily masses or to go to and from the Vatican. This entirely holiday week disappeared in 1801 after the signing of the Concordat between the Pope and Napoleon Bonaparte, who was then First Consul, and only Monday has remained a holiday since.
What are the Easter traditions?
Worldwide, Easter traditions are numerous. Let us quote some of them which one finds in France.
- easter bunnies : In eastern France and Germany, it is this animal with long ears that distributes chocolate eggs to children. This tradition originated in southern Germany. In the past, people in these regions could not eat meat during Lent. Rabbits therefore multiplied in the fields during this period and marked the beginning of the revival. It was in the 17th century that they were associated with Easter eggs. The rabbit or more precisely the hare is also the emblematic animal of Ostara, the Germanic goddess of fertility and spring who was venerated in the Middle Ages.
- Decorated eggs : this custom, which dates back to the Middle Ages, comes from the fact that, during Lent, the consumption of eggs was prohibited, fasting and abstinence required. In order not to lose them, we only consumed them during Mi-Lent, preparing pancakes and donuts, then we decorated those laid the following days in order to offer them at Easter.
- Chocolate eggs : in the 18th century, people began to empty eggs to fill them with chocolate and offer them. Moldings of chocolate eggs did not appear until the 19th century with the evolution of manufacturing techniques.
- Easter bells : according to popular tradition, it is the bells, which leave Rome on Holy Thursday, which bring the eggs on Easter morning and ring out the resurrection of Jesus. In the East of France, the stork or the rabbit sometimes replaces the bells to bring Easter eggs.
- Egg hunt : Traditionally, eggs and other Easter chocolates are hidden in gardens, houses or apartments for children to collect.
What are the best Easter chocolates?
Chocolate is a must for Easter. In the form of small praline eggs, frying, molding in the shape of a bell, rabbit, hen or egg but also in desserts, it invites itself to our table during the Easter weekend.
What to eat at Easter? All our recipe ideas
The star ingredient of the Easter meal remains lamb, from the leg to the shoulder, including the ribs. Find out how to accommodate this meat and with which dishes to accompany it. And then, we can’t celebrate Easter without chocolate! Find all our recipes for the most gourmet:
Where to organize an Easter egg hunt?
Outdoors or at home, in an apartment or in the garden, easter egg hunt is the favorite activity of children. To hide everywhere, chocolate eggs will delight young and old. Some castles, zoos and other unusual places organize exceptional egg hunts!
What Easter activities to do with the children?
Coloring rabbits, making chicks or eggs at home, decorating cakes or even sending personalized cards… Easter is first and foremost a children’s party! And it’s not because we are in confinement that we cannot carry out these activities which will please young and old alike, offered by our partner Hugo l’Escargot.
Easter decoration, for the table and home
Easter is an opportunity to let your imagination run wild and decorate the house thanks to decorative objects made with the children. So you can bet on the DIY to create Easter bells thanks to cardboard boxes or pretty place cards for the festive table. Children will also love the must-have activity every year, namely decorating Easter eggs with paint. To enhance your dining room, you can also make a wreath of spring flowers where you will slip Easter eggs or fake chicks! Also remember to fold your napkins in a clever way: tutorials will help you make rabbit-shaped folds.
What is the symbolism of Christian Easter?
For Christians, Easter is the most important religious holiday and marks the event in the life of Jesus on which their faith is based, namely his resurrection. The celebration of Easter concludes Holy Week describing the Passion of Christ, from the Last Supper – his last meal – to his crucifixion, then his burial. In the Christian religion, this feast symbolizes the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for men but also a certain spiritual renewal and a confirmation of the faith.