easter monday
MediumFormal, Calendar/Religious, Media
Definition
Meaning
The day immediately following Easter Sunday, a public holiday in many countries, particularly in the Christian tradition.
A day for social and family gatherings, sporting events, or leisurely activities following the religious observances of Easter Sunday. It marks a continuation of the Easter holiday period.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Always capitalized as a proper noun referring to a specific holiday. Its meaning is primarily calendrical and cultural rather than carrying abstract conceptual weight.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK and many Commonwealth nations, it is a statutory/bank holiday. In the US, it is not a federal holiday and is less widely observed in public life, though it is noted on calendars and observed liturgically.
Connotations
In the UK: Strong association with a day off work, bank holiday travel, family outings, and traditional events like egg rolling. In the US: Primarily a religious/cultural marker for Christian communities, with little impact on the general secular calendar.
Frequency
Much more frequent in UK English media and daily conversation due to its status as a public holiday. In US English, it is primarily used in religious contexts or by specific communities.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
We are closed [on] Easter Monday.The event takes place [on] Easter Monday.Easter Monday [is] a public holiday.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"Our offices will be closed for the Easter Monday bank holiday."
Academic
"The historical record shows the tradition of 'Hocktide' celebrations often extended into Easter Monday."
Everyday
"What are your plans for Easter Monday? We're thinking of a walk by the coast."
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- We're having an Easter Monday barbecue.
American English
- The church's Easter Monday service is at 10 am.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The shop is not open on Easter Monday.
- Is Easter Monday a holiday in your country?
- We always visit my grandparents on Easter Monday.
- The museum has special opening hours for the Easter Monday bank holiday.
- Due to the Easter Monday closure, the project deadline has been extended to Tuesday.
- A longstanding tradition here is the Easter Monday egg-rolling competition on the village green.
- While Easter Monday holds little secular significance in the United States, it remains a liturgical feast day within many Christian denominations.
- The economic impact of the Easter Monday bank holiday is reflected in the quarterly retail figures.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of it as the 'Bonus Day' of the Easter celebration weekend – Sunday is for the religious event, Monday is for the family and leisure.
Conceptual Metaphor
A DAY OF REST / A DAY OF CONTINUATION (The celebration/rest period continues from Sunday into Monday).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid a direct calque like 'Пасхальный понедельник' unless in a religious context. In secular UK contexts, it is better translated as 'пасхальный выходной' (Easter day off) or 'второй день Пасхи' (the second day of Easter).
- Do not confuse with 'Bright Monday' (Светлый понедельник), which is a specific term in Orthodox tradition and may not align with the secular holiday concept.
Common Mistakes
- Writing it in lower case (easter monday).
- Using 'on' incorrectly or omitting it (e.g., 'We meet Easter Monday' instead of 'We meet on Easter Monday').
- Assuming it is a universal public holiday, especially in communication with Americans.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following statements about Easter Monday is most accurate for British English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, its date changes each year as it depends on the date of Easter Sunday, which is based on a lunar calendar. It is always the day after Easter Sunday.
When specifying when something happens, you typically use the preposition 'on' (e.g., 'We're going on Easter Monday'). When using it as a subject or object, you do not (e.g., 'Easter Monday is a holiday').
No, Easter Monday is not a federal or widely observed public holiday in the United States. Some businesses, schools, or government offices may be closed, but this is not universal.
Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus. Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday, celebrating the resurrection and often serving as a secular day of rest.