Easter weekend is Friday, March 30 to Monday, April 2 this year. Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday and it is a federal statutory holiday across Canada. In provinces where Family Day, Islander Day and Louis Riel Day are not observed Good Friday is the first stat holiday after New Years Day. In Quebec employers can choose to give the day off either on Good Friday or Easter Monday.
Easter is a holiday when tons of chocolate is sold in the form of easter eggs and easter bunnies. The Easter Bunny brings a basket full of goodies to children for Easter. Sometimes the gifts are hidden so children have to look for them – this is called an egghunt.
Canadians celebrate Easter much as it is celebrated in other western countries. Many Christians attend religious services on both Good Friday and Easter Sunday, and in general it is customary to mark the holiday with family gatherings, food, Easter egg hunts, or the exchange of chocolate eggs and bunnies or small gifts. Foods commonly associated with Easter Sunday include lamb, which is directly associated with Christ, the “Lamb of God”; ham, which can be traced back to pagan rites of spring and was said to bring luck; and bread or cakes, which are representative of fertility in many pagan traditions. Hot cross buns have a particular connection to Easter in Canada by virtue of their English origin. These round, bread-like buns are made with currants and spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg.
Easter Activities in Toronto and GTA:
1) The Good Friday Concert
by Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church
Easter is a holiday when tons of chocolate is sold in the form of easter eggs and easter bunnies. The Easter Bunny brings a basket full of goodies to children for Easter. Sometimes the gifts are hidden so children have to look for them – this is called an egghunt.
Canadians celebrate Easter much as it is celebrated in other western countries. Many Christians attend religious services on both Good Friday and Easter Sunday, and in general it is customary to mark the holiday with family gatherings, food, Easter egg hunts, or the exchange of chocolate eggs and bunnies or small gifts. Foods commonly associated with Easter Sunday include lamb, which is directly associated with Christ, the “Lamb of God”; ham, which can be traced back to pagan rites of spring and was said to bring luck; and bread or cakes, which are representative of fertility in many pagan traditions. Hot cross buns have a particular connection to Easter in Canada by virtue of their English origin. These round, bread-like buns are made with currants and spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg.
Easter Activities in Toronto and GTA:
1) The Good Friday Concert
by Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church
1585 Yonge Street
416-922-1167
Admission Free –Donations Welcome
2) Easter Egg Painting: Family Workshop
Learn this ancient art form. Create your own personalized pysanky (Easter eggs) using traditional wax-resist techniques. Suitable for ages 8 and up; children must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration is required – please call the site at 416-396-2819 to register. Adults $12; children $8 (plus taxes).
Todmorden Mills Heritage Site
2) Easter Egg Painting: Family Workshop
Learn this ancient art form. Create your own personalized pysanky (Easter eggs) using traditional wax-resist techniques. Suitable for ages 8 and up; children must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration is required – please call the site at 416-396-2819 to register. Adults $12; children $8 (plus taxes).
Todmorden Mills Heritage Site
67 Pottery Road, Toronto M4K 2B9
3) Good Friday Easter Egg Hunt
Join princesses and the Easter Bunny for a free Easter egg hunt and face-painting at Kew Gardens from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, March 30.
3) Good Friday Easter Egg Hunt
Join princesses and the Easter Bunny for a free Easter egg hunt and face-painting at Kew Gardens from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, March 30.
Kew Gardens, 2075 Queen St. E.
What’s open and closed In Toronto Easter Weekend
SHOPPING
The Eaton Centre is open all weekend, with shorter hours Good Friday (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and Easter Sunday (noon to 5 p.m.).
Yorkdale Shopping Centre is closed Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Fairview Mall is closed Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Sherway Gardens is closed Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
The Scarborough Town Centre is closed Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Rabba stores are open 24/7, 365 days a year.
SERVICES
Holiday service and schedule is in effect Good Friday.
Sunday service and schedule is in effect Good Friday.
Toronto Public Library branches are closed Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.
