Culture Corner, Czytanie, English, Newest

Easter in Ireland

Photo taken from LINK

In the year 2024 Easter in Ireland will fall on 31 March. 

 

As Ireland is a Catholic country, Easter there is not just a “bunny and egg hunt” holiday. The first day of Lent, which falls on Ash Wednesday, begins a 40-day period of “Easter season.” It’s the period of self reflection and sacrifice. It lasts until Easter Sunday, which is a day of Mass, followed by a large family dinner.  

 

The Easter menu consists mainly of spring lamb, simnel cakes and hot cross buns (traditions imported from the English). The Simnel Cake is a fruitcake decorated with 11 marzipan eggs which symbolise the Apostles (except Judas), whereas hot cross buns originate from a story about a 12th century monk baking buns and marking them with a cross in honour of Good Friday. 

 

Photo taken from LINK

 

One of the old Irish traditions is to buy new clothes for Easter Sunday. And now, traditionally, people wear them; some young girls wear green hair ribbons, yellow dresses and white shoes. These colours and new clothes symbolise purity and a new start to life. 

 

Now, let’s speak Irish!

 

Happy Easter! (to one person) Beannachtaí na Cásca ort!  

(pronounced Byan-okht-ee nah Kaw-skah ort)  

 

Happy Easter! (to more than one person) Beannachtaí na Cásca oraibh! 

(Pronounced Byan-okht-ee nah Kaw-skah or-ee) 

 

Sources: 1, 2

 

 2023/2024 © Natalia Kościelniak,  Języki Obce w Mediach i Biznesie, 3 rok, Akademia Nauk Stosowanych w Koninie