EASTER
In the UK, schools close for about two weeks at Easter time. Read on to find out more about how
Easter is celebrated in Britain.
What does it mean?
Easter is a spring festival of new life. As a pagan tradition, it is the beginning of growth and new
life after the cold, winter months. The name comes from the Anglo-Saxon goddess of the dawn
and spring – Eostre. For Christians, Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and
practising Christians attend special church services at Easter time. Easter celebrates life and
rebirth, which is why we see lots of symbols of new life and fertility at Easter, like eggs, chicks
and rabbits.
When is it?
Unlike Christmas, Easter isn’t on the same date each year. It takes place on the first Sunday after
the first full moon of spring. Schoolchildren and students in the UK have about a two-week
holiday at Easter time, which is almost as long as the Christmas holiday. It’s also the first public
holiday after Christmas and everyone looks forward to their Easter break as a moment to relax,
have a short holiday or visit family and friends.
Chocolate eggs
For most British children, Easter means chocolate Easter eggs. The shops are full of bright Easter
displays decorated with chicks, rabbits and flowers, all with the objective of selling chocolate
eggs in huge numbers. And it works! 90 million chocolate eggs are sold in the UK each year and
each child receives on average eight chocolate eggs.
However, the eggs are sold in cardboard boxes and sometimes there’s more packaging than
chocolate! Also, some people believe that too much chocolate is eaten and most doctors and
dentists would advise people to eat Easter eggs in moderation.
Other 'egg-straordinary' traditions
In the UK, chocolate is definitely the most popular way to enjoy eggs at Easter. But there are
some less sugary traditions, too. Chickens’ eggs are painted and decorated to give as presents,
and eggs are also hidden for children to find as part of an 'egg hunt'. Some places even hold
competitions to see who can roll an egg down a hill without it breaking!
There are other special foods too. Hot cross buns are typical cakes that are made at Easter time.
They are spiced bread rolls with raisins and they always have a cross shape on top. They are
delicious toasted with butter.
TASK 1
Are the sentences true or false?
1. Easter is a summer festival. True False
2. The exact date of Easter is different every year. True False
3. The Easter holiday is two weeks long for everyone in the UK. True False
4. Chocolate eggs are extremely popular. True False
5. Doctors and dentists say that people should not eat any Easter eggs. True False
6. In an egg hunt, children hide eggs for adults to find. True False
TASK 2
Fill the gaps with the correct prepositions.
1. Easter is a spring festival _____________new life.
2. Christians attend special church services ______________Easter.
3. Easter isn’t ______________the same date each year.
4. Everyone looks forward ____________their Easter break.
5. The shops are full ______________bright Easter displays.
6. The aim of most shops is to sell chocolate eggs ______________huge numbers.
7. Doctors and dentists would advise people to eat Easter eggs _____________moderation.
8. Eggs are painted and decorated to give _____________presents.
TASK 3
Complete the sentences
1 Easter ________________ life and rebirth.
2 The name Easter ________________ from Eostre, the goddess of the dawn and spring.
3 Christians _____________________ special church services at Easter time.
4 The eggs _________________ in cardboard boxes.
5 Some people believe that too much chocolate ___________________ at Easter.
6 Chickens’ eggs ____________________ to give as presents.
7 Eggs __________________ for children to find.
8 Hot cross buns are typical cakes that ______________________ at Easter time.
Read the text about Easter in Britain.
After reading the text, do task 1. Copy the sentences in your notebook and next to each of them write T
if the sentence is true or F if it is false. Correct those that are false.
Task 2 Write the sentences in your notebooks and fill the gaps with the correct prepositions.
Task 3 Write the sentences in your notebooks. Complete the gaps. You can find all the sentences in the
text.
HAPPY EASTER!
