After a dark, long and cold British winter, the heralding of spring is a time to celebrate. The clocks change, vibrant flowers rear their heads, and lambs bleat in the fields; summer is not far away and new life is starting. The British have been celebrating spring in various ways for more than a thousand years, beginning with Easter, and leading up to May Day. Here, we explore the origins of some of our British spring traditions and the different ways they are still celebrated today.
Easter
Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the Spring Equinox (21 March), meaning it can fall anywhere between 22 March and 25 April.
Commemorating the miracle of Jesus’s death and resurrection, a theme
