Culture Lesson: Easter

As we enter the Easter period, let's take a look at its meaning and traditions.

What is Easter?

Easter is the most important festival in the Christian calendar. Christians believe, according to the Bible, that Jesus came back to _1_, or was raised from the dead, three days after his death on the cross. It is said that Jesus _2_ on Good Friday and rose from the dead on Easter Sunday.

Easter Day is always on a Sunday but the date _3_ unlike Christmas, which is always on 25 December.

What does Easter mean?

Before Christianity Europeans worshipped the Goddess of Spring, _4_ name was 'Eostre'. They thought she brought the sun back to life every year after it died in the winter.

What are Easter Traditions?

There are many Easter customs _5_ eggs. Giving children chocolate eggs is popular, so is parents hiding chocolate eggs in the garden for children to find. In many countries children are given hard boiled eggs _6_ decorate. Eggs are a good metaphor for new life.

The Easter Bunny is a mythical rabbit that gives chocolate eggs to good children. The _7_ of why a rabbit is associated with Easter are unclear, but the legend has been around _8_ hundreds of years.

Choose the correct missing words to complete the text:

• Missing word 1 is:
  
  leave
  life
  live
  
  
• Missing word 2 is:
  
  died
  dies
  death
  
  
• Missing word 3 is:
  
  varies
  varied
  various
  
  
• Missing word 4 is:
  
  whose
  which
  who
  
  
• Missing word 5 is:
  
  involves
  involved
  involving
  
  
• Missing word 6 is:
  
  as
  for
  to
  
  
• Missing word 7 is:
  
  originals
  orginality
  origins
  
  
• Missing word 8 is:
  
  for
  from
  as