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EASTER: PAST AND PRESENT

1. What do you know about the history of Easter? Read this text quickly to find out more about
its origins.
Easter'soriginsare pagan,Hebrewand Christian.(1)
Ittook place on the day of the
Easter became a holy celebrationin the 2nd century.(2)
spring equinox,March 21st. Many traditionsassociatedwith the pagan festivalsurvivetoday in the
Easter rabbit,which is a symbolof fertilityand the colourfulEaster egg, which symbolisessunlight,
springand new life.
Other Easter customscome fromthe Jewish Passover feast,which commemoratesthe deliverance
This importantfestival
of the Jews from Egypt as recountedin the Book of Exodus. (3)
thatJesus Christ
believe
Most
Christians
was celebratedat the firstfull moon afterthe springequinox.
(4)was crucifiedand buriedjust beforethe beginningof Passoveron Fridaymorning.
As Christianityspread it was very common for the missionariesto adopt and modifynon-Christian
originswere graduallyforgotten.
ln such a way non-Christian
festivals.(5)
For Christians,Easter Sunday remembersthe Resurrectionof Christ. lt is celebratedon the first
Sunday afterthefirstfullmoon on, orafter,the springequinox,March 21st.(6)
symbolising
Eastercomes at the end of Lent,a 40-dayperiodof fastingand spiritualpreparation,
Jesus'40-dayfastin the dese. Lentbeginson Ash Wednesday,when ashes are usedto marka cross
on the foreheadof believersto remindthem that man too will ultimatelybe ash. Holy Week, the last
week of Lent,beginson Palm Sunday,which commemoratesJesus'entry intoJerusalemwhen the
'God's
Good Friday,which probablyhas its name from
crowds laid palms at His feet. (7)
The name'Good Friday'isused becauseChristiansbelieve
Jesus'crucifixion.
Friday',commemorates
'make peace'withGod. Easter Sunday
that Jesus' death should be celebratedas it allowsthem to
the Christiansymbolof renewaland
marksthe end of HolvWeek and celebratesJesus' Resurrection,
rebirth.
2" Read the text again and put the missing sentences(A-G) into the correct spaces in the text (1-7).
A. Maundy Thursday remembers the Last Supper (in Britain the Queen attends a Maundy Thursday
seruiceand distributesgifts of money to the same number of people as her age, a traditionstartedin
l36l with Edward III).
B. Therefore it can fall on any Sunday betweenMarch 22nd andApril 25th.
C. Befor then it was a purely paganfeastcelebratingthe festivalof Eostre,the ancientSaxon goddessof
fertility and springtime,who symbolised renewal and rebirth.
D. The Easter celebrationas we know it today has elementsfrom each of theseand, while for religious
people it is a time to renew their faith. for the secularit is a time to celebratethe beginningof spring
and the new life that comes with this.
E. Many early Christianswere of Jewish origin and saw Easteras a new featureof the Passoverfestival.
'passedover' the homes of Jews who had markedtheir doors with
F. This tells how the Angel of Death
sacrificialblood, while killing the first-bomof every famiiy whose door was not markd.
G. This was a safe way of spreadingthe Christian messageas it allowd people to continuecelebrating
their non-Christian feasts.but in a more and more Christian manner.
3. Find words or phrases in the text which mean the same as those in the box below (a-h).
a) the rising of Jesus from the tomb
d) told

e) change slightly

b) religious

c) killed by being nailedto a cross

t) period of going without certainkinds of food

g) freeing

h) time in the year when the sun crossesthe equatorand day and night are of equal length

EASTER SYMBOLS
4. Look at the picturesand namethe symbols.
Easter Egg

E,asterLily

Easter Bunny

Cross

Lamb

Eastr Basket

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5. Read the text and decide which Easter symbol each passagedescribes.
1. It is childrn's favouriteEaster character.They believe that it comes in the night and hides a basketof
chocolateeggs for them to find. Its origins are pagan.It was the earthly symbol of the Saxon goddess
of spring, Eostre, and symbolised fertility and new life. Originally it was a hare. Early Europeans
believed the hare symbolisedthe moon as legend says the animal never closed its eyes,but watched
all the other animals during the night. It makes it a very appropriatesymbol for Easter becausethe
date of E,astris determinedby the moon.
2. This beautiful white flower was originalLy a symbol of spring in Ancint Greece. The species was
broughtto America in the late 1800s and, for Christians,came to symbolise the purity of Christ.
3. This symbol, decoratingthe hot cross buns traditionally eatenfor breakfaston Good Friday, stands
for the Crucifixion and Christianity.Apparently,these sweetrolls also have pagan origins as Anglo.christianise' thse cakes, the
Saxons ate cakes during their spring celebrations and, in order to
missionariesdrew this sign on them and blessedthem'
4. We can't forget the traditionalmeat for dinner on Easter Sunday.For Christians, it representsJesus
to
Christ, who is often referredto as the Lamb of God. Th Jews sacrificedthis animal as an offering
God and Christians believe that Jesus sacrificedhimself to save mankind.
rebirth.
5. It is the most popular Easter symbol that, even before Christianity, symbolised new life and
were
They
resurrection.
of
Christians later took it to representthe tomb that Jsuscam out of' a symbol
a forbidden food during Lent in the Middle Ages so people gave them as presentson Easter Sunday'
Masters gave them to ir SetYants,the aristocracywrappedthem in a gold leaf and peasantsdecorated
spring
them by boiling them with leaves and petals.They were always brightly colouredto represent
and sunlight.
for the priest to
6. This symbol originatesfrom the ancient Catholic tradition of taking food to Mass
find it filled
bless.For many .hitd."n it symbolisesthe nest of the E,asterBunny and they can't wait to
with chocolateeggs on Easter morning'

6. Easter symbols quiz. How much do you rememrer?

Team name:

1. What is all children's favourite Easter symbol?

2. What does the Easter Rabbit do?
3. What did the Easter Rabbit symbolize?
4. Why did the Europeansbeiieve that the hare symbolised the moon?
5. What determinesthe date of Easter?
6. What were lilies originally a symbol ofl

7. Whenwerelilies broushtto America?

8. What do Easter Lilies representfor Christians?

9. What food is served for Good Friday breakfast?
10. What ar hot cross buns?
11. What does the Cross stand for?
.christianise,caks?
12. How did missionaries
13. What mat is traditionally served for Easter dinner?
14. How is Christ often refened to?
15. What do Christians believ that Christ did?
16.What does the Easter Egg symbolise?
17.When were eggs a forbidden food?
18. How did the aristocracyand peasantsdecorateeggs?
19.Where does the Easter Basket originatefrom?
20. What does the Easter Basket representfor children?

EASTER WORD HUNT

7. Use the cluesto help you find 12 words relating to Easter.The words may go in any direction:
horizontally,vertically,diagonally,forwards and backwards.
1. A festival celebratingChrist's Resurrection
2. A sweet roll marked with a cross and eatenon
the Friday before Easter
3. A day or time of rest
4. Associated with God or religion
5. We like to eat eggs made of this sweet
substance
6. The day which commemoratesthe crucifixion
of Christ
7. Th Easter Bunny hides eggs in this for
children to find
8. A symbol of new life
9. Jesus
10.A small furry animal with long ears that hides
presents and representsfertility
11.The first seasonof the year.It startson
March 21st
12. Th Sunday before Easter

PALMSUNDAYOR
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TOGYADNUSAMA
CFAGHTEUFPEW
RARTSIRIICURT
OMASRETSAEQI
SIBACHOLIDAY
SLBTEKSABRUM
BYIETALOCOHC
UOTHHOLYDAIO
NOGOODFRIDAY

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FORBIDDEN WORDS
8. Define the words in bold without using the forbidden words on the card.
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EGG IDIOMS
9. Choosethe correctmeaningfor eachof theseidioms.
1. If you 'egg someoneon', do you _

2 . I s a ' b a d e g g '_

3. If you 'put all your eggs in one basket', are you _

4. Isan 'egg-head'_

5. Ifyou 'have egg on your face', do you _

a) encouragethem to do somthing?
b) urge them to drive faster?
c) politely ask them to leave?
a) a stupid idea?
b) a dishonestperson?
c) bad news?
a) carrying a bag that is too heavy?
b) risking all on the succssof one thing?
c) a clever person?
a) avery intellectualperson?
b) an uneducatedperson?
c) a foolish person?
a) need a wash?
b) look bored?
c) look foolish?