Holidays. Easter

Easter

***

Through the sunshine
Through the shadow
Down the hills
Down the meadows
Little streams
Run bright and merry
Bursting with the news, they carry
Singing, shouting, laughing, humming,
Easter is coming!
Easter is coming!

1. Read and translate the text.

Easter

From Scotland to Cornwall, Britain is full of customs and traditions. A lot of them have very long histories. Some are funny and some are strange. But they are all interesting. Easter as we know it today, the celebration owes its name and many of its customs and symbols to a pagan festival called Eostre. Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of springtime and sunrise, got her name from the world east, where the sunrises. Every spring northern European peoples celebrated the festival of Eostre to honor the awakening of new life in nature. Christians related the rising of the sun to the resurrection of Jesus and their own spiritual rebirth. Many modern Easter symbols come from pagan time. The egg, for instance, was a fertility symbol long before the Christian era. The ancient Persians, Greeks and Chinese exchanged eggs at their spring festivals. In Christian times the egg took on a new meaning symbolizing the tomb from which Christ rose. The ancient custom of dyeing eggs at Easter time is still very popular. The Easter bunny also originated in pre-Christian fertility lore. The rabbit was the most fertile animal our ances tors knew, so they selected it as a symbol of new life. Today, children enjoy eating candy bunnies and listening to stories about the Easter bunny, who supposedly brings Easter eggs in a fancy basket. Also there is a spectacular parade on Easter. It is a truly spectacular Easter Parade in Battersea Park. It is sponsored by the London Tourist Board and is usually planned around a central theme related to the history and attractions of London. The great procession, or parade, begins at 3 p.m. but it is advisable to find a vantage-point well before that hour.

Vocabulary

Easter – Пасха

customs - обычаи, традиции

pagan - языческий

the awakening - пробуждение

the resurrection - воскресение, воскрешение

rebirth – возрождение

fertility - изобилие, богатство

Bunny - кролик

1. Read and translate the text.

It’s interesting:

All over the world people celebrate Easter.

India. The Hindu festival is a celebration of the festival of spring and is associated with happy singing. Bright clothes are warned and people spray one another with colored water and powder.

Long ago in China people held the Lantern Festival to celebrate the new birth of the world. Brightly colored lanterns were hung everywhere and fireworks were set off.

In Japan there is a festival called Sets bun or change of seasons. Roast beans are scattered in the home and in the streets to scare away evil spirits.

In France Shrovetide is known as Fat Tuesday because the world eats up all the fat and butter.

In Denmark and Norway children traditionally decorate branches of birch with colored paper.

In Spain some cities have processions every evening during the week before Easter.

In Britain, Australia, France rich people give money or food to the poor.

In Russia it was believed that life did not pass away, everything has it’s time for returning to Earth. On meeting people would exclaim: “Christ has risen”.

Let’s Have Fun

1. Complete the sentences. Read and translate.

Easter

Christians 1) ____ the resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday/ Many churches hold Easter 2) _____ services. Churches are decorated with 3) ____ lilies and are filled with people 4) _____ new Easter outfits. The choir and congregation join in. 5) ____ special hymns of joy.
For many children the excitement of receiving an Easter 6) ____ filled with goodies and hunting for eggs 7) ____ by the Easter rabbit is topped only by the excitement of receiving gifts from 8) ____ at Christmas. Did you ever wonder why the Easter 9) ____ brings the eggs instead of the Easter chicken? After all, 10) ___ not rabbits lay eggs.

1. Use the articles where necessary. Read and translate.

Easter

Easter is the time when certain traditions are observed. It is celebrated either as … start of spring or a religious festival. In England presents traditionally take the form of … Easter egg. Easter eggs are usually made of …chocolate. Nowadays, …Easter eggs are often artificial. But they haven’t been used before the middle of the last century and they haven’t displaced … true Easter eggs.

Easter eggs always grace breakfast tables on …Easter Day. Sometimes they are hidden about the house for the children to find them.

There are some Easter games like …egg-rolling and …egg-shackling. Every year London greets … spring with Easter Parade in Battersea Park on …Easter Sunday.

1. Answer the questions:

1. What is Easter?

2. When is it celebrated?

3. What are the symbols of Easter?

4. What does the egg and bunny mean?

5. What is the favourite gift at Easter?