What is Easter?

Easter is the most important festival in the Christian calendar. It celebrates Jesus rising from the dead (‘resurrection’), three days after he was executed on a Roman cross (‘crucified’). Jesus is a Jewish man who lived over 2000 years ago and Christians believe he is the Son of God.

When is Easter?

In 2026 Easter Sunday or Easter Day is on 5 April. The week leading up to Easter is called Holy Week. The date of Easter varies from year to year as it is based on a combination of the lunar calendar and the spring equinox. The church determines Easter as the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon on or after 21 March – an approximation of the spring equinox. The date is also linked to the date of the Jewish festival of Passover, reflecting the belief that Jesus was crucified around the time of Passover. In the UK we also celebrate Easter with Public Holidays for all on Good Friday and Easter Monday (the day after Easter Sunday).

Christians in Birmingham

There are many Christians in Birmingham city who will be celebrating Easter. According to the 2021 Census, 34% of Birmingham residents (389,406 people) are Christian – this being the most common religion of Birmingham residents.

There are also many churches (Christian places of worship) across Birmingham. The Birmingham Faith Community Map draws together information about these churches. Many of these churches also provide activities and services available to the wider community all year round regardless of religious background of beneficiaries.

Birmingham Churches Together is an organisation which brings together Birmingham churches of different denominations (i.e. whether they are Catholic, Protestant, Methodist, Baptist etc) to work together and many Christians of different backgrounds will also be celebrating Easter together.

Faith communities of all religions, including Christianity, make up approximately 1/3 of Birmingham’s Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise sector.

 

What happens in Holy Week?

Palm Sunday (29 March this year) is the Sunday before Easter Sunday and celebrates Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem arriving on a donkey. Crowds of people came out to greet him and waved and threw palm branches on the road. Some churches wave palm branches on Palm Sunday and give out small crosses made of these branches.

Maundy Thursday ( 2 April this year) is the Thursday before Easter Day. Christians remember Jesus eating the Passover meal with his disciples, breaking bread and drinking wine. This is also known as the Last Supper. Many Christians remember throughout the year by sharing bread and wine at a Church service called Holy Communion, Eucharist or Mass. It is also a reminder of Jesus’ death and sacrifice of his life.

Good Friday ( 3 April this year) is the Friday before Easter Day. It commemorates Jesus’ death on the cross and is a day of mourning in church. Some churches hold services on Good Friday and in some places there may be reenactments of the story.

Easter Day marks Jesus rising from the dead. After Jesus died his body was placed in a cave tomb which was guarded by Roman soldiers with an enormous stone rolled over the entrance. On Sunday the tomb was visited by Mary Magdalene and some of Jesus disciples (followers). They found the stone had been rolled away and Jesus’ body gone. Some met an angel who told them Jesus had risen from the dead. Some saw and spoke to Jesus later that day and for 40 days after.

Christians celebrate Easter Day at Easter Sunday services in Church. Some may get up to celebrate at sunrise. Some may come together with other Christians to celebrate or even walk or process with a cross together outside. Lent ( a time of fasting before Easter) ends on Easter Sunday which is a Feast Day. Some Christians eat special Easter food such as fish (on Good Friday) (after Jesus had risen he cooked a fish breakfast for some of his disciples) or Lamb (on either Maundy Thursday in timing with Passover or on Easter Sunday) to represent Jesus’ sacrifice. Some Christians may even drink champagne on Easter Sunday!

 

What about Easter Eggs and the Easter Bunny?

Many Christians also eat eggs and chocolate Easter Eggs on Easter Sunday. They may also paint eggs and decorate their homes for Easter. The Easter Egg is a symbol of new life and resurrection however this, alongside the Easter Bunny, has origins which predate Christianity linked to ancient spring and fertility festivals – symbols such as these being adopted at a later date by the Church and by Christians.

 

Find out more about Easter

BBC Bitesize Resources for Teachers

Birmingham Faith Community Map

Birmingham Churches Together