But, said MacCarron, who authored “Bede and Time: Computus, Theology and History in the Early Medieval World,” computus texts like this one remind us that the dating of Easter isn’t random.

Just how serious is Easter? For non-churchgoers (like myself) with a sweet tooth (guilty, again) the answer to this question is probably: not very, although the chocolate eggs are welcome.

Easter, which takes place on April 9 in 2023, usually occurs towards the beginning of spring, a season when plants bloom and animals give birth. Eggs in particular are a clear symbol of rebirth ...

Easter is, by contrast, a feast. Versions of simnels (high-quality bread), decorated eggs, pancakes, and roast lamb can all be found in medieval European culture . Whether hot cross buns come from ...

The castle, built in 1350 close to Haydon Bridge, was home to one of Edward III’s most trusted knights, Sir Thomas de Lucy. History tells us that easter eggs were already a tradition in the time ...

Arundel Castle was transported back in time over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend as it hosted its first Medieval Festival of the year. Drawing thousands of visitors, the three-day spectacular ...

But what interests me more, as someone who researches the cultural history of joking and laughter, is the controversial status Easter laughter once held. In late medieval Europe, priests provoked ...

Lamb was certainly a meat with specific links to the festival, but traces of other foodstuffs now associated with Easter and Lent ... known across medieval Europe. Medieval bread came in many ...

There were, however, definitely no Easter bunnies. DM/ML Giles Gasper is a Professor in High Medieval History at Durham University.