Easter Specials…

In the west Easter is the time for holidays, celebrations and exchanging chocolate Easter eggs. But Easter means much more...

Easter is the oldest and the most important Christian Festival, which marks the death and celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Christians, the dawn of Easter Sunday with its message of new life is the high point of the Christian year.

Easter captures the story of Jesus' last days in Jerusalem before his death. It includes Maundy Thursday (the Last Supper leading to the Eucharist), Good Friday (the day on which Jesus was crucified) and Easter Day (the day on which Jesus came back to life).

Alike the festivals of other communities, food forms an important component of Easter too 

Hot Cross Buns, which are rich spiced tea-cakes, are traditionally served on Good Friday. While Boiled Eggs form a part of the traditional Easter Breakfast.

Roast Lamb, which is the main dish at Jewish Passover, is the traditional meat for the main meal on Easter Day.

And the Simnel Cake is the tea-time attraction. This is a light fruit cake with delicious dried fruits; topped with a flat layer of apricot jam and marzipan (sugar almond paste); and decorated with 11 marzipan balls representing the 12 apostles minus Judas, who betrayed Christ. Originally the Simnel Cake was a gift to mothers on Mothering Sunday in Mid-Lent.

Another traditional item served on Easter is Easter Biscuits - sometimes called "Cakes". They comprise of spices, currants and grated lemon rind.