As the autumn term gets underway, and children return to school, be prepared to see the shops preparing for Christmas.
The school summer holidays passed in the blink of an eye and we expect the autumn months will also do so.
After Christmas, we will then look forward to the countdown to the Easter break.
Here’s a rundown of the Christmas and Easter holidays ahead.
When are the Christmas holidays 2024?
School term and holiday dates vary across the UK. You can check the precise dates here.However, in England, the end of term is expected to be around Friday, December 20, with the start of term on Monday, January 6.
Christmas Day falls on Wednesday, December 25 – just over 130 days away!
Although the holidays celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, did you know that this is not the date mentioned in the Bible?
For the first three centuries of Christianity, the most important festival was Epiphany – which is thought to have occurred on January 6 – and marks the coming of the Magi, also known as the Three Kings or the Three Wise Men, to visit Christ while he was a newborn.
December 25 was the date when the pagan Saturnalia festival was held, marking the winter solstice.
The celebration of December 25 as Christ's birthday did not begin until early in the Roman calendar, around AD 336.Why, then, did everything change? Pope Julius I is to thought to be responsible for that. Julius I declared December 25 to be the official day to commemorate the birth of Jesus in the fourth century. It's generally accepted that Julius I selected this date in order to encourage people to celebrate Christmas rather than the pagan celebrations that were held at the same time.
When is Easter 2025?
Easter Sunday falls on April 20 in 2025.
On Good Friday, April 18, and Easter Monday, April 20, adults have the two days off from work, while children across the country take a full two weeks off from school. The exact dates of terms vary depending on the school and the area. However, in 2025, the Easter breaks are probably going to fall between April 7 and April 21.
That's more than enough time for Easter egg hunts, homework, and family visits!
Easter is simply defined as the first Sunday following the full moon that falls on or after the spring equinox. Easter is the following Sunday if the full moon occurs on a Sunday.
The spring equinox always falls on March 21.
In accordance with these regulations, the earliest Easter Sunday can occur is on March 22. That last time that happened was in 1818.
