Easter Monday

Easter Monday in United Kingdom, for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020.

United Kingdom	2018	2019	2020
Easter Monday	2nd April	22nd April	13th April

Easter Monday

Easter Monday is the day following the Easter Sunday. It is a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but it's not in Scotland.

In many Christian countries, Easter Monday is a day of happiness because it celebrates the day after the resurrection of Christ. In some countries - such as Italy or Spain - this day is called "Monday of the Angel": in effect, in the Gospels is written that Mary Magdalene and Salome went to Jesus' tomb the day after his death and they found out that the tomb was empty. Near it, there was an angel who told them that Christ had risen and resurrected. This happened "The day after Easter", that's why traditions mistook the day as the Monday after Jesus's death. But the mistake was created by the fact that the Gospels referred to the Hebrew Passover, that falls on Saturday.
Nowadays, people of Christendom celebrate Easter Monday by taking a day to rest and to enjoy the early spring.

What people do on Easter Monday

In United Kingdom, the Easter Monday is a bank holiday in all countries but Scotland. For this reason, schools are closed and so they are many business and shops, even if not all of them. Public transport could run a special timetable, different from the standard one. Besides, several competitions, parades and fairs could be held all around the Country. One of the most famous is the Pancake races, where people run down the road trying not to drop their pancake. In Scotland, Easter Monday is a normal Monday and it's not celebrated as a holiday.

The Hocktide and medieval celebrations of Easter Monday

The celebration of Easter Monday is, somehow, linked to the old tradition of Hocktide, which was a medieval festival, held in England. Hocktide very important because represented a day of rest for the parishes. Today, it's still celebrated in England with parades and meals.