Easter in Ireland - Customs & Traditions
By Mairead Foley

Like many countries, nowadays Easter in Ireland is celebrated with easter holidays, easter eggs and easter bunnies. Easter Sunday is a time for family and friends to get together, attend mass and have a roast dinner. Like most Catholic countries for 40 days before Easter Sunday we have a period called ‘Lent’ where some people abstain from something they like. On Good Friday, pubs are closed as a mark of respect, but when Easter Sunday comes round, people celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ by attending mass, Lent is over and everyone can head out that night to enjoy themselves as the following day is a Bank Holiday Monday! The Easter bank holiday weekend is a big weekend in the social calender with lots of events taking place all over the country.

Long ago in Ireland, Easter was celebrated in many different ways. On Easter Sunday, people would dance on the streets, people went barefoot on Good Friday and herring processions were held on Easter Saturday.

For some Irish people, Easter has also got another major significance. It’s the time when people remember the 1916 Easter Rising. This was the turning point in Irish history when Ireland fought for independence from Britain and became a republic. The uprising mainly took place in Dublin city, so visit the National Museum Collins Barracks, Kilmainham Gaol and the GPO if you want to re-visit and learn more about the 1916 Rising. Some places in Ireland may have a ceremony to commemorate this event.

Hope you enjoy your Easter Holiday in Ireland!

Mairead Foley writes for the Ireland travel and accommodation website http://www.GoIreland.com

Visit GoIreland for all you need to know before visiting Ireland, like what to see and where to go. Book Dublin hotels.

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