Easter 2022

Easter is a religious holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is typically observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. However, due to differences in the Gregorian and Julian calendars, Easter changes dates from year to year.

The date of Easter is determined by a council of Christian bishops who meet every four years to decide when it will be observed. The council takes into account the date of the vernal equinox, as well as other factors such as lunar cycles and national bank holidays.

Good Friday is celebrated on the Friday before Easter Sunday and is commemorated with crucifixion re-enactments and sermons. Easter Sunday is the main day of Easter celebrations and is marked by church services, egg hunts, and ham dinners. Easter Monday is a bank holiday in many countries and is often celebrated with family gatherings or sports tournaments.

Easter Background

The name of the ancient German Goddess of Spring, Eastre, gave rise to the word “Easter.” Her festival was held at the vernal equinox. The French term for Easter, Pâques, is derived from the Greek term for Passover, which takes place about the same time as Easter.

A meeting of the three traditions — Pagan, Hebrew, and Christian — may be found in Easter celebrations. According to St. Bede, an English historian of the early 8th century, Easter is derived from ancient Teutonic mythology.

It was named after the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring Eostre, who had April as her month. The festival of Eostre was held at the vernal equinox, when both day and night have an equal measure of daylight.

The name “Easter” is relatively new. When early English Christians wanted to spread their religion, they decided to use the term “Easter” for this holiday in order to reconcile it with the old spring festival.

This helped convert more people to Christianity. However, some argue that the modern Easter holiday is rooted in the Hebrew culture, especially since it coincides with Passover. This is observed during Nisan, the first month of the Jewish lunar calendar. The Jewish Passover was established to commemorate Israel’s liberation from about 300 years of servitude in Egypt under Moses.

When is Easter 2022?

– Good Friday will be on Friday, April 15th

– Easter Sunday will be on Sunday, April 17th

– Easter Monday will be on Monday, April 18th

Why does Easter change every year and who decides the date?

Easter is a religious holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated by Christians all over the world and usually falls in late March or early April. However, the date of Easter changes every year because it is based on the lunar calendar.

The date of Easter is set by the Church of England’s Council of Bishops. They meet every year to discuss the matter and decide on a date that they believe is appropriate. The Church of England follows the Julian calendar, which is different from the Gregorian calendar that most of the world uses. This means that the date of Easter can be up to two weeks later than the date that is typically observed in other countries.

Easter is a bank holiday in the United Kingdom, meaning that it is a public holiday and most businesses are closed. Easter Sunday is also a national holiday in many other countries, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States.

Easter is a special time for many people all over the world, and the date of the holiday is an important part of its tradition. Even though the date changes every year, the meaning and spirit of Easter remain the same.

Why is Easter taking place in 2022 so late?

Because Easter Sunday falls on April 4 in 2021, this year’s Easter Sunday is being held later than usual.

This is because it occurs on the first Sunday that follows the ecclesiastical full moon (known as the ‘Paschal’) after the spring equinox.

The Western Gregorian calendar observes an Easter Sunday tradition that it has not observed for three years, with the latest date falling on April 21, 2019.

But, in 1943, Easter Sunday didn’t come until Sunday, April 25 – because the last ecclesiastical full moon preceding the Paschal did not occur until Saturday, March 20.

Easter Sunday will fall to this date again in only 16 years, and 95 years since the aforementioned Easter, in 2038.

The date for Easter also varies depending on which calendar is used: the Gregorian calendar or the Julian calendar, which is employed by Eastern Orthodox Christians.

The 13-day gap between these two calendars implies that dates may vary significantly, with the Eastern (Julian) Easter Sunday happening on April 24, 2022.

Easter weekend 2022 activities in London

The Passion of Jesus

On Good Friday, witness a spectacular free performance of The Passion of Jesus: It has 100 actors and takes place in Trafalgar Square. 15 April

London Easter 10k

At the London Easter 10k, get rid of those Easter eggs: Dress up and run for Easter goodies in the family-friendly Adult Fun Run and Children’s Race. 18 April

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child or Wicked

Take the kids to one of London’s fantastic kid-friendly performances.

London’s churches or cathedrals

Attend an Easter service at one of London’s churches or cathedrals: Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, or Southwark Cathedral are all worth seeing.

Handel’s Messiah

Enjoy a traditional Good Friday performance of Handel’s Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall, where you will be moved by the Royal Choral Society singing the iconic “Hallelujah” chorus.

Easter 2022 opening hours and transport in London

Good Friday and Easter Monday are both public holidays. Usually, most attractions are open over the Easter bank holiday, but you’re advised to check with individual venues in advance; particularly to find what is open on Easter in London. 

Between Good Friday and Easter Monday, public transportation services, such as the London Underground, may be suspended. If you live in London, plan your journey ahead of time on the TfL website and cycle or walk wherever possible.