EASTER - some information

• Easter is not only a joyful spring festival.• Christians and many other people around the

world celebrate the rebirth of Jesus every year. • Pagan traditions give us the English word

"Easter" which comes from the word "Eostre".• The English word Easter comes from

the Anglo – Saxon name for the month of April, which was known as "Eostremonath"

The modern English term Easter developed from the Old English word Ēastre or Ēostre (IPA: [ˈæːɑstre, ˈeːostre]), which itself developed prior to 899.

The name refers to Eostur-monath (Old English "Ēostre month"), a month of the Germanic calendar attested by Bede, who writes that the month is named after the goddess Ēostre of Anglo-Saxon paganism.

• In Britain children have two weeks off school when it is Easter. They finish school a few days before the Easter weekend.

• It is traditional to eat warm 'hot cross buns' on Good Friday .

• The cross on top of the buns symbolizes and reminds Christians Jesus death on the cross.

People have breakfast with the family.

Boiled eggs are traditionally served at breakfast.

• At home, everyone gives each other chocolate eggs.

• In England children get big ones filled with sweets.

Around 80 million chocolate eggs are eaten each year in Britain.

• Roast lamb is the traditional meat for the main meal on Easter Day. It is served with mint sauce and vegetables.

The traditional Easter pudding is

custard tarts.

After dinner children play the game – Easter Egg Hunt. Parents/adults hide small chocolate eggs in the garden or at home and children try to find them.

Later in the afternoon people have a special Easter Cake for tea – it’s Simnel cake.

The Simnel cake is a rich fruitcake covered with a thick layer of almond paste (marzipan). A layer of marzipan is also traditionally baked into the middle of the cake. Eleven balls of marzipan are placed around the top to represent the eleven true disciples (excluding Judas).

Simnel cake

• Egg rolling is very popular in England and is an Easter Monday sport.

Hard-boiled eggs are rolled down a hill.

Remember the name?

Traditional Easter breakfast:

Boiled eggs

Remember the name?

Traditional Easter pudding

Custard pie

Remember when?

• Egg rolling races are held on ________.

Eggs are rolled down a hill or slope. The first one to reach the bottom unbroken is the winner

Do you know…….?

• 1) What do Christians celebrate on Easter Sunday?

• 2) Easter is the end of Lent. How long does Lent last?

• 3) The Easter Bunny has its origins in which country?

Do you know…….?

• 1) What do Christians celebrate on Easter Sunday?

The rebirth of Jesus.

Easter Sunday or Easter Day is the most important day of the year for Christians. It is when they celebrate that three days after being killed, Jesus rose from the dead, sometimes called 'the Resurrection' 

• 2) Easter is the end of Lent. How long does Lent last?

 Lent lasts for 40 days but you don't count the Sundays!

The Easter bunny story seems to have originated in Germany.

It originated with the pagan festival of Eastre for the goddess Eastre, who was worshiped by Anglo-Saxons through her earthy symbol, the rabbit. The rabbit served as a symbol of new life during the spring season and is part of pre-Christian fertility tradition. 

QuizzesHow much do you remember?

• Interactive Quiz 1 http://goo.gl/mmtb0

• Interactive Quiz 2 http://goo.gl/rwYQA