EASTER is fast approaching, with many looking forward to tucking into chocolate eggs and having days off of work.
Here, we look at when Easter Monday is in 2023 and why it is a bank holiday.
When is Easter Monday 2023?
Easter Monday 2023 falls on April 10.
This means that Good Friday will be on April 7, 2023.
The Easter bank holiday changes every year.
It is dependent on the moon. Easter is celebrated on the Sunday after the Paschal full moon, which is the first full moon after the spring equinox.
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This means that the Easter weekend can fall as early as March 22, or as late as April 25.
Easter Monday fell on April 18 in 2022.
Is Easter Monday a bank holiday?
Easter Monday is a bank holiday, much like Good Friday which is the previous week.
This first bank holidays came into force with the Bank Holidays Act of 1871.
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The day holds significance for worshippers of the Christian faith, as it is believed to be the day after Jesus Christ was resurrected following his crucifixion.
This is where Sir John Lubbock MP proposed a list of statutory holidays to be observed throughout the UK and Ireland.
This was on top of the two holidays that were already observed, Christmas Day and Good Friday.
The additional dates added were Easter Monday, Whit Monday, the first Monday in August and Boxing Day.
Easter Sunday is not a bank holiday as it is a weekend.
Why do we get two bank holidays at Easter?
There is historical significance as to why there are two bank holidays during the Easter period.
Having the Monday as a bank holiday stems from Hocktide, a medieval festival which originates from the eleventh century.
This event traditionally took place on the Monday and Tuesday in the second week after Easter.
This festival died out in following years, and now is only observed in Hungerford, Berkshire.
When is Easter 2024?
Good Friday 2024 will land on March 29.
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Easter Sunday falls on March 31, 2024.
Easter Monday will follow this on April 1 in 2024.
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