Easter in Russia and Europe

We are going to watch a short video, which tells us about life and resurrection

of Jesus Christ. Look at the screen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9Z3Piqs-K0

Boys and girls, today we are going to travel and learn about Easter traditions in Russia and different European countries

Great Britain

Germany

Russia

France

ItalyPoland

Great Britain

Easter is a holiday in late March or early April, the first Sunday after the first full moon after 21 March. Easter is a moveable feast. The date is not fixed.

The main days of Easter week:Palm Sunday

Maundy Thursday

Good Friday

Easter

Symbols of EasterOne of the main symbols is a

cross, often on a hill.

Easter Egg, a symbol of spring and new life, is usually chocolate in Great Britain.

Many children believe that the Easter bunny comes to their house or garden to hide eggs. Some businesses and attractions hold special Easter egg games. These can be competitions to see who can collect the most eggs or something else.

Easter foodHot cross

buns, now eaten throughout the Easter season, were first baked in England.

A Simnel cake is a fruit cake with a thin layer of marzipan on the top, and another similar layer baked in the middle.

And now let` s watch the video about Sarah and learn how she spends Easter in her family.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onFF6NVwEeU

Easter Celebration In FranceFrance being a Roman Catholic country, you could imagine that Easter is an important holiday for the French. In fact, schools in France often centre their spring breaks around the holiday, and working French people get a three-day weekend in honor of the holiday.

Easter symbols are:

•Easter fish

•Flying Bells

•Easter Eggs

Easter FoodLamb is traditionally cooked for Easter in France. 'Gigot D'agneau' (leg of lamb) is prepared in many Christian houses in France, especially for the ceremonious occasion. Among the traditional recipes of France, lamb stew is very popular. The typical French recipe is prepared by making use of spring vegetables.

Polish EasterThe tradition of Easter celebrations in Poland are as old and elaborate as Christmas celebrations and they involve a lot of preparation and Easter customs.

Easter SymbolsThe "blessing basket" is one of the unique Easter traditions in Poland. The basket, stashed with colored eggs, bread, cake, salt, paper and white colored sausages, is taken to the church to have it blessed.

Written eggs are painted

in different colours.

GermanyGermans enjoy a very long Easter weekend: Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays; shops, banks, and offices are closed. Trains and buses operate on a limited holiday schedule.

SymbolsGerman kids were told of an "Easter bunny" (Osterhase) that hid eggs and chocolates for children to find on Easter Sunday.

Another unique custom associated with the celebration of Easter in Germany is the "Easter fire".

Easter tree is embellished beautifully with hollowed eggs, which are dyed and hung with colorful ribbons, throughout the Holy Week.

Italy

Easter in Italy is a very special holiday as this country is the heart of the Catholic religion. Easter celebration in Italy is almost as big as Christmas celebration.

Symbols Dyed eggs represent life, fertility, and renewal, all of which are essential symbols of Easter.

Easter bunny is chocolate.

Easter foodClassic traditional Italy Easter dinner

usually includes young roasted lamb or goat with potatoes, fried artichokes and a salad with sweet pepper, tomatoes and olives.

Traditional Easter pie

And now let` s watch the video about celebrating Easter around the world. Be very attentive. After watching you will answer the questions and get

presents for the right answers.

http://www.eslvideo.com/esl_video_quiz_intermediate.php?id=10933

Questions:

Countries around the world celebrate Easter in the same way.It's true.It's false.It's not in the video.

In Germany, Germans celebrate the holiday with an Easter fire.It's true.It's false.It's not in the video.

Germans burn Christmas trees to acknowledge a spring break at school.It's true.It's false.It's not in the video.

After Easter in Belgium and France, children go to Rome to collect Easter eggs from the Pope.It's true.It's false.It's not in the video.

This tradition is known as Silent Saturday.It's true.It's false.It's not in the video.

In Russia, Easter is not an important holiday. People don't celebrate it.It's true.It's false.It's not in the video.

Russians decorate folk art Easter eggs in red, black and yellow.It's true.It's false.It's not in the video.

In the Greek Orthodox culture, eggs are painted red to symbolize the blood of Christ.It's true.It's false.It's not in the video.

In parts of Germany and Austria, eggs are painted green and eaten on Holy Tuesday.It's true.It's false.It's not in the video.

Slavic people decorate their eggs in gold and silver patterns.It's true.It's false.It's not in the video.

Originally, Easter eggs are painted in bright colours to represent spring and moonlight.It's true.It's false.It's not in the video.

In America, kids of all ages enjoy decorating their Easter eggs as they wait for the Easter Chicken to come.It's true.It's false.It's not in the video.

In America's traditional past, the Easter parade and Easter bonnet are two symbols of America's heritage.It's true.It's false.It's not in the video.

An Easter parade is held every five years in New York from 49th to 57th Street.It's true.It's false.It's not in the video.

Started in 1878, the White House holds an annual barbeque every year.It's true.It's false.It's not in the video.

After Halloween, Easter is the biggest turkey-consuming holiday every year.It's true.It's false.It's not in the video.

The first chocolate eggs were made in Germany in the 19th century.It's true.It's false.It's not in the video.

Americans like to bite off the ears of the Easter bunny first.It's true.It's false.It's not in the video.

Canadians like to eat maple syrup and pancakes on Easter.It's true.It's false.It's not in the video.

Everyone has his or her own reasons to celebrate Easter.It's true.It's false.It's not in the video.

Modern day symbols such as chocolate, painted Easter eggs and Easter bunnies are symbols of religious beliefs.It's true.It's false.It's not in the video.