Easter: History, Symbols and Traditions

г. Новороссийск

they celebrate?

What are the symbols of Easter?

What do

people do at Easter?

the first full moon in spring. That’s why it’s on

a different date each year.
The word “Easter” comes from “Eostre”, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring.
Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Many people celebrate the beginning of spring.

*resurrection – воскрешение

of fasting in the Christian calendar. So it is often

a time of fun and celebration.
The Friday before Easter Sunday and the Monday after are a bank holiday in the UK.
Some people go to church to commemorate the death on the cross of Jesus Christ.

in America. People wear Easter bonnets, decorated with spring flowers.
On

the Friday before Easter people in England enjoy the traditional Good Friday breakfast of hot cross buns.
The special Easter Sunday lunch includes roast lamb and traditional Simnel cake.

the egg. Eggs are a symbol of a new life.
Exchanging

and eating Easter eggs is a popular custom in many countries. In the UK before they were replaced by chocolate Easter eggs real eggs were used, in most cases, chicken eggs.

patterns. The traditionally bright colours represented spring and light.
Nowadays

people give each other Easter eggs made of chocolate, usually hollow and filled with sweets.

“Hunt the egg” and “Egg rolling”.
The legend says an

“Easter bunny” hides eggs in the garden and children have to find them on Easter morning. Sometimes the eggs are put in a basket.
Egg rolling is very popular in England and
it’s an Easter Monday sport.
N Children roll hard-boiled eggs
down a hill.

baby rabbits for their children. People eat chocolate bunnies too.
The

tradition of the Easter Hare, or Easter Bunny comes from a Northern European legend. Long ago in a small village the mothers had no money to buy their children presents for Easter. They painted eggs with lots of beautiful pictures and hid them in the forest near the village. When the children went to play in the forest on Easter Sunday they saw the eggs but they didn't know where they came from. Suddenly a hare ran out from behind a pile of eggs and the children started shouting: " They are hare's eggs!".

associated with Easter because they are born in the spring.

The lamb is also a sign of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
The cross was also a well-known symbol before the time of Christ. It was used a special mark on clothes and buildings. However, when Jesus was crucified, the cross became a symbol of suffering.