Embrace Easter traditions this year with Chef & Brewer
There’s something so exciting about Easter. It’s not just that it gives many of us a four-day weekend or the excuse to indulge in buttery hot cross buns and chocolate eggs. Although, let’s be honest, those are quite nice perks!
But it also arrives just as spring begins, when the days grow longer, the weather feels warmer, and fresh blooms start to return to the trees. After many months of winter chill, it feels like the start of a fresh chapter and sunnier days ahead.
While each of us may have our own unique traditions for Easter, the event also has plenty of old customs that date back centuries, from roast lamb feasts to egg hunts.
At Chef & Brewer, we cherish these Easter traditions just as much as we enjoy welcoming friends, family, and loved ones to our pubs for Easter and a warm welcome.
When is Easter 2026?
Easter Sunday is set by the lunar calendar, falling on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. This year’s event lands on Sunday, the 5th of April.
Why Easter is the perfect time for customs and traditions?
With roots stretching back to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Easter is an event steeped in history and tradition.
It's long been a chance for family or loved ones to gather together and enjoy quality time. From classic rituals to modern celebrations, there are plenty of ways to mark the event. What’s your favourite way?
The origins of Easter traditions
Easter egg hunts
One of the best-loved traditions (and tastiest!) is the egg hunt. It's a great way to entertain little ones as you hide eggs around the house, garden or street and offer helpful clues so they can track them down and fill their baskets.
Long before Christianity, eggs were seen as a symbol of rebirth and the return of spring. They became more closely linked with the Christian celebration of Easter because eggs were traditionally one of the foods given up during Lent, and people would decorate them and set them aside to enjoy on Easter Sunday.
The idea of an egg hunt comes from German Lutheran customs between the 1600s and the 1700s, when the Osterhase, or the Easter Hare, laid colourful eggs for little ones to find.
Discover historic charm and countryside bliss
The Cross Keys pub is nestled in the picturesque village of Slyne-with-Hest, just three miles north of Lancaster. It’s dog-friendly and brimming with vintage character, including exposed ceiling beams and a roaring fire.
Surrounded by lush countryside, the village offers stunning walks along the Lancaster Canal, as well as the nearby coastline. History lovers can also enjoy the rich heritage of the Grade II listed St Luke’s Church, as well as the nearby Lancaster Castle, which dates back to Roman times.
Exchanging of chocolate Easter eggs
When did Easter eggs go from a yolk centre to an indulgent chocolate one? The first wave of chocolate eggs appeared in Europe in the early 1800s, with Cadbury mass-producing hollow versions by the 1890s.
You might assume Americans would fully embrace such a delicious tradition, but it remains far more rooted in European culture. Maybe it’ll take off across the pond soon!
The Easter Bunny
The legend of the Easter Bunny comes from German Protestants in the 1600s, who would tell stories of the Osterhase, which was a magical Easter hare that laid colourful eggs for children to find. Little ones would even build nests for the hare in anticipation. Over time, the hare became the beloved bunny we all know and love today!
Much like with Santa, grown-ups may dress up as the bunny to surprise children at Easter events, such as breakfasts, parades and parties.
A roast lamb feast
As Jesus is often referred to as the Lamb of God, and Easter celebrates his resurrection, serving lamb is seen as hugely symbolic for the occasion.
But even if you don’t mark the day for religious reasons, a roast lamb is simply a delicious feast to enjoy with loved ones.
Lamb is also linked to spring as it is historically the lambing season, and a time when fresh lamb was readily available to everyone. Like spring, lambs can also be seen as a symbol of new life and rebirth.
At Chef & Brewer, we offer guests plenty of dishes across our menu to celebrate Easter such as roast lamb and all the trimmings, as well as plenty of other plates to please.
Unique Easter traditions from around the world
Virpominen: In Finland, children dress as witches and go from door to door on Palm Sunday, which is the week before Easter Sunday, or Easter Saturday. It stems from the old belief that witches had their sabbaths before Easter, and kids typically carry decorated willow twigs, known as virpovitsa, and swap them for sweets or chocolate coins.
Easter witches: Children follow a similar tradition in Sweden, handing out the decorated twigs or even drawings in exchange for treats.
Gækkebrev: This tradition, also known as snowdrop letters, is popular in Denmark. Children create intricately cut paper letters shaped like snowflakes, often containing riddles or rhymes. Sent anonymously on Good Friday, these letters challenge family members or friends to guess their sender before Easter is over.
Śmigus-Dyngus: In Poland, many mark Easter Monday with a water fight known as Śmigus-Dyngus. People may use buckets, hoses or even water guns to soak one another, and the tradition comes from an old courtship ritual where men would throw water over the girls they liked. We wonder how successful that tactic proved…
Giant omelettes: When life gives you eggs, make an omelette! In the French town of Bessières, locals cook up an omelette large enough to feed 2000 people. It’s a big process, usually involving around 15000 eggs!
Botides: In Corfu, the tradition of Botides sees residents throwing clay pots of water from their balconies on Easter Saturday to ward off evil spirits.
Why Chef & Brewer is a great spot to spend this Easter
With roast lamb one of the key traditions of Easter, why not stop by Chef & Brewer and let our talented chefs create a delicious feast without the fuss? Not a fan of lamb? We've got plenty of Sunday roast options to suit.
Step away from the oven, stop worrying about cleaning your house for guests, and let us host without the hassle. Our dedicated Easter menu is sure to please every preference, plus our fully stocked bar can keep the drinks flowing.
Coming with the family? We’ve got kids’ menus crafted for little ones, plus our beer gardens provide the perfect spot for warmer days.
Find your nearest Chef & Brewer pub for Easter 2026
Looking for a spot for Easter this year? Chef & Brewer have plenty of pubs for a cracking celebration. Put your location or postcode into our pub finder tool, and see what’s on offer.