Easter Monday

Easter Monday is a statutory bank holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (Scotland treats Good Friday, rather than Easter Monday, as its primary Easter bank holiday), giving most of the country a four-day Easter weekend running from Good Friday through Monday. Unlike Good Friday, Easter Monday carries little specific religious observance of its own; it functions mainly as a civic extension of the Easter break, a pattern that dates back to the Bank Holidays Act 1871, which formally established it alongside Whit Monday and other now-defunct bank holidays. Historically, Easter Monday was associated with various regional customs, including egg rolling down hillsides, a tradition said to symbolize the rolling away of the stone from Jesus's tomb, and in some areas, community fairs and sporting events. It also traditionally marks the start of the English Premier League and cricket season build-up, with many spring fixtures and events scheduled around the long weekend. For families, the day is commonly associated with Easter egg hunts, leftover chocolate, and the last day of a short break before school and work resume. Retailers often hold Easter Monday sales, and many National Trust and heritage sites see some of their highest visitor numbers of the year on this final day of the holiday weekend.