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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think that Easter is very English?

201 replies

SodaStreamy · 29/03/2013 11:15

It is though isn't it?

England shuts down for 4 days .....Scotland doesn't

Why change the tv schedule .....I wanted to watch this monring but it's off 'for Easter'

I went to England 8 year ago on Easter Sunday and it was shut! England was shut not a single shop open

OP posts:
HollyBerryBush · 29/03/2013 12:13

So is Easter Catholic?

No it's a Christian celebration.

LadyBeaEGGleEyes · 29/03/2013 12:16

Grin Monty.
That's the type of Easter i had in Greece which i mentioned upthread.
After the 'Christ is Risen' bit, it was a huge party.

KenDoddsDadsDog · 29/03/2013 12:18

Blimey - I lived in Spain and Easter is hard core over there. Think self flagellating , lots of Semana Santa church ceremonies and walks.
England is tame in comparison.

CarpeVinum · 29/03/2013 12:22

There are branches of Christianity

Yes. But that doesn't change the reality that Easter is a christian festival celebrated by Catholics, becuase they are christians, rather than because Easter is Catholic. Which is what my post was addressing.

thewhistler · 29/03/2013 12:24

Good Friday may not be recognised in eg Wee Free or secular areas, but I bet it is in Barra...

As it is in Lutheran and indeed some Calvinist areas on the continent, eg Germany and Geneva, as well as Catholic, eg Bavaria, Malta, Italy, Spain, Orthodox eg Greece, Romanian. I love their Easters and the family get togethers, though the hours long Easter services of the Orthodox with minimal audience participation get me down. But the red eggs afterwards are great.

Theologically far more important than Christmas, where eg the populism of the crib was developed by St Francis and redness of Santa by Coca Cola. And is not important to eg the Wee Frees.

Good Friday is a fast day. Every Friday was and even after the reformation in England you were legally obliged to eat fish not meat , to help the fishing fleets. Hence the serving of fish and chips in canteens on Friday.

Montybojangles · 29/03/2013 12:26

Lady Blush didn't realise there was a second page of this, just spotted it (durr)
Christos Anesti!

ReallyTired · 29/03/2013 12:28

"Carpe There are branches of Christianity. All hoovers are vacuums but not all vacuums are hovers iyswim. Some branches of Christianity recognise all saints day - others don't, doesn't make them any more or less Christian. "

Erm... I think that all christians recongise Easter. Its not just a "saints" day, its most important event in the entire history of mankind for christians.

For me the entire events of holy week are important as it puts the ressurection into context. I think that some nominal christians shy away from wanting to think about the horror that happened in holy week.

thewhistler · 29/03/2013 12:29

Anesti Alethos.

Beveridge · 29/03/2013 12:35

Blame John Knox.

Christmas Day wasn't a public holiday in Scotland till 1957. Santa used to come at New Year instead.

WorraLiberty · 29/03/2013 12:35

How strange.

I'm in England and I've just got back from Morrisons which was very much open...and will be open tomorrow too and Monday.

It's shut on Easter Sunday but that's the only day of the year, apart from Christmas day that it'll be shut.

poocatcherchampion · 29/03/2013 12:38

we are christians but don't celebrate Easter. I think many Christians don't. perhaps this is why America doesn't wholesale acknowledge it either?

binger · 29/03/2013 12:46

I'm in Scotland and it's a massive deal here. Loads of places are off the Friday and Monday. Shops are open but companies are closed.

KindleMum · 29/03/2013 12:46

YABVU. It's the main and defining event of the Christian calendar. The UK is a fairly secular country. But if you ever notice Europe, you would see that Holy Week and Easter are major events there. If you think the Catholics go to town for it, you should really see how the Russian and Greek Orthodox celebrate it. England barely acknowledges Easter, it's mainly a bank-holiday-sales thing here.

Original poster
SodaStreamy · 29/03/2013 13:00

@roulade

why?

serious question ...and why does they date of Easter change every year if it is such an important date?

OP posts:
Alligatorpie · 29/03/2013 13:09

In Canada we celebrate way more than i have ever seen in England. It is a bit OTT with easter egg hunts / parties but is loads of fun!

FoofFighter · 29/03/2013 13:24

Am in Scotland and really missing Easter back home in England, I'm used ot it being a big deal, a lovely holiday along the same lines as the Christmas break.

Considering Easter is supposed to be even more important than Christmas I cannot understand why it's business as usual.
The kids are off school for once though as that's just the way it's fallen, last few years they've been there Good Friday and Easter Monday.

:(

Talkinpeace · 29/03/2013 13:30

poocatcher
I'm slightly bemused by the thought of a Christian who does not do Easter.
Easter is the reason there is Christianity.

sodastream
Easter is linked to passover (the last supper was a passover supper because Jesus was, of course, Jewish.
It is the first Sunday after the first Full moon after the Spring Equinox.
And the Orthodox church use the old calendar so their one this year is next month.

INeedThatForkOff · 29/03/2013 13:33

Er, the kids have two weeks off here too.

Easter in Germany is really lovely.

Talkinpeace · 29/03/2013 13:45

Foofighter
Good Friday and Easter Monday are bank holidays in Scotland.
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/bank-holidays/
School holidays are ALWAYS over Easter.
No school is open on those days in the UK. Ever.

Montybojangles · 29/03/2013 13:50

[busmile] thewhistler

ChocsAwayInMyGob · 29/03/2013 13:51

Easter is not English. Easter is the bedrock of all branches of Christianity. Easter remembers that Christ died and rose again. Without this bit, Jesus would have just been remembered as a nice man or a prophet. Easter is the important bit that kind of cements the Son of God stuff and makes it so relevant to Christianity. The resurrection and the everlasting life are defining points of the faith, and not just in England!

Easter is celebrated in all christian countries, Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican.

Annunziata · 29/03/2013 14:05

I wish I was back in Sicily watching the processions :(

I am however in Scotland and it seems a big deal here, not like Christmas though. We do live in a fairly Catholic area though.

FoofFighter · 29/03/2013 14:07

Talkin, sorry but you are indeed incorrect on the schools thing. My own children have been to school on those days many times in the past up here.

Yes the banks are closed as are offices that rely on things like benefits centres and tax office.

QuickLookBusy · 29/03/2013 14:13

I really can't believe schools are open anywhere in the UK today.

Unless it's some kind of private school which is non Christian.

LadyBeaEGGleEyes · 29/03/2013 14:21

I'm in Scotland and the 2 week Easter break always coincides with Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Easter for me is chocolate eggs and a roast lamb on Sunday, I inherited that from Greece, where I'll cook it with garlic, lemon and oregano.
Then I like to watch a nice film, The Sound of Music would do it, otherwise something like Ben Hur or The Greatest Story Ever Told, which even if you're an athiest is a cracking good story.
John Wayne as the Centurian is a joy.