Celebrate Easter the Irish Way
Did you know that the Easter Bunny visits Ireland? Easter is a significant holiday in Ireland, and the traditions and customs reflect the country's rich cultural heritage. From religious observances to parades and special meals, Easter is a time for families and communities to come together and celebrate.
To get into the holiday spirit, let’s explore some Irish Easter traditions — from religious services to food and drinks — that have lasted for generations!
Culture of Easter in Ireland
Easter in Ireland focuses on family, tradition and religious observance. The holiday features a blend of Catholic traditions with local customs, including special meals, egg hunts and events. As for decorations, the Irish like to deck the streets out with green and yellow.
In Irish culture, eggs are a symbol of fertility, new life and rebirth. As part of the festivities, it is common to dye hard-boiled eggs in bright colors, paint them and decorate them with fun patterns and designs. In rural areas, many families roll these eggs down small hills in a race to determine a winner.
Similar to other British and European countries, the Easter Bunny is a popular figure in Ireland, bringing yummy chocolate eggs for children. Many families organize egg hunts, and children search the garden for the beloved bunny. This tradition spans thousands of years and is originally linked to pagan celebrations of new life in the springtime!
Another long-standing tradition in Ireland is Easter Parades, which are held all across the country. The largest one, the Dublin parade, features marching bands, floats and performers from all over the world. This event attracts visitors from far and wide, and thousands of people gather to watch the procession. In the countryside, Easter Sunday is often a highlight of the social calendar, with fairs and horse races drawing crowds.
The Religious and Historical Importance of Easter
Ireland is a predominantly Catholic country, and Easter is an important religious observance. The religious significance of Easter is widely celebrated and Catholic tradition is more strictly adhered to than in some other countries. What does this entail?
Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, kicks it off as mass-goers are blessed and marked on the forehead with ashes in the shape of a cross. Lent is the 46 days (40 days if you exclude Sundays) leading up to Easter Sunday. This period is meant to mirror the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert fasting and ignoring the temptations of Satan, according to Christian teachings. During this time, Christians fast, give up vices or commit to some other form of penance to show respect. This can range from serious commitments to small challenges like giving up sweet treats.
The Sunday before Easter is Palm Sunday, a day of remembrance of when Jesus triumphantly returned to Jerusalem. To commemorate this day, people traditionally hang palm leaves and carry branches of palms and other greenery in a procession. Palm Sunday is considered the beginning of Holy Week — the final week of Lent and the week leading up to Easter Sunday.
Throughout Holy Week, the Irish take part in various activities, such as special church services, to mark the passing of the days and actions that lead to Jesus’ eventual betrayal by the Apostle Judas, his death by crucifixion on Good Friday (the Friday before Easter) and his resurrection two days later (Easter Sunday).
On Good Friday, the day Jesus died, everywhere is closed in Ireland, including schools and banks. Catholics fast and attend a solemn service commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus. People don't eat meat on Good Friday and traditionally the Irish would go barefoot on this day. Historically, many Irish people ate nothing until midday, no wood was burned, no nails were driven and no animals were slaughtered on this day.
Come Easter Sunday — the day of Jesus’ resurrection — everyone is out celebrating. Special masses are held in churches across Ireland, and many people attend the “Sunrise Service” to welcome the new day. Christ is risen, Lent is over and the pubs are open! Plus, the following Monday is also a holiday, so they don't have to worry about work in the morning.
In Ireland, Easter Sunday is also a time to remember the Easter Rising, a rebellion against British rule in 1916 that led to the establishment of the Irish Free State. As a hugely important event in Irish history, the Easter Rising is commemorated with ceremonies and events, with the most significant one being the Easter Sunday Commemoration in Dublin's Garden of Remembrance. During this ceremony, the Proclamation of Independence is read out, as it was during the Easter Rising of 1916.
Irish-Inspired Easter Menu
Food is an integral part of Easter celebrations. On Easter Sunday, families come together and share a special meal. In Ireland, roast lamb or ham, vegetables and potatoes are staples of the Easter Sunday meal. This is a time-honored tradition that dates back to ancient times when lamb was seen as a symbol of spring and renewal during the festival of Imbolc!
Shrove Tuesday — AKA Pancake Tuesday — is a non-religious holiday that’s now widely celebrated in Ireland. Taking place the day before Ash Wednesday, Shrove Tuesday was the last opportunity to use up tasty ingredients, such as eggs, milk, butter, flour and sugar, before fasting. Traditional Irish pancakes are thin and served with sugar and lemon juice. However, nowadays, it’s also common to make thick, American-style buttermilk pancakes.
Fish is an important protein for Irish Easter for multiple reasons. One, it was the mainstay of the Irish diet during Lent because, historically, meat wasn’t allowed during this period. The most common fish to eat at this time was salted herring or John Dory, both of which have biblical connections. In some Irish households, fish is a significant part of the Good Friday meal, with some believing it is a holy food.
Did somebody say dessert? A popular Irish Easter treat is hot cross buns, a sweet pastry that is traditionally eaten on Good Friday. On top of the bun is a cross, used to symbolize the crucifixion of Jesus. Another Irish dessert staple is simnel cake, a light, moist fruit cake that pairs perfectly with a hot cup of tea. The fruit cake is covered in marzipan, with a layer of almond paste or marzipan baked into the middle. Simnel cake is topped with eleven marzipan balls to represent each of Jesus’s true apostles (Judas is omitted). Let’s not forget about the chocolate eggs, which is by far the most popular Easter tradition in modern Ireland. Irish residents consume an average of 17.5 million Easter eggs each year!
Traditional foods served on Easter Sunday in Ireland include leek soup, roast spring lamb, baked ham, and boiling bacon, all of which are served with cabbage and potatoes. Leek soup is a classic appetizer during any Irish Easter Sunday feast. Hearty and packed with flavor, it’s the perfect way to kick off a day of feasting.
Enjoy Your Easter Meal From Tommy Moloney’s
Whether you’re religious or not, Easter can be a wonderful time to rest, re-energize and spend time with your family and loved ones. Celebrate the warm arrival and abundance of spring with a delicious, authentic Irish meal from Tommy Moloney’s!
