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EASTER IN BRITAIN & EASTER IN BRITAIN & USAUSA

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Easter – What comes to mind?

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Do you know that…

EASTER is a religious holiday that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But the term ‘Easter' is not of Christian origin!!!

Let us turn to the dictionnaries to see what they say about the term “Easter”:

Easter: \Eas'ter\, E['a]stre, a goddess of light or spring, in honor of whom a festival was celebrated in April

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The word EASTER comes from Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon name of a pagan goddess of

Spring and fertility, whose festival was celebrated at the vernal equinox

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Spring or Vernal Equinox

Equinox is Latin for “Equal Night” -when daytime equals nighttime

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Calculating the date of Easter

• The festival of Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon which happens on or after

March 21, which is also known as the Spring Equinox

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When is Easter?

• It is on a different date each year.

• Always on a Sunday.

• Always in the Spring.

• Most people just check a calendar!!!

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• Why is it that English speaking Christians, still use the name of a pagan goddess Eastre to refer to this sacred event???

• In many languages, the term used for the events surrounding Jesus' death and resurrection is called “Pesach” or “Passover”.

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Pesach =Pascha = Passover

• Hebrew: Pesach• Greek: Pascha• French: Pâques• Italian: Pasqua• Spanish: Pascua• Portuguese: Pascoa• Romanian: Paste• Russian: Paskha• Polish: Pascha• Japanese: Seidai Pasuha

• Albanian: Pashket• Danish: Paske• Finnish: Paasiainen• Icelandic: Paskar• Norwegian: Paske• Swedish: Pask• Irish: Caisc• Turkish: Paskalya• Indonesian: Paskah• Persian: Pas'h

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In spite of the fact that English speaking Christians, still use the name

of a pagan goddess to refer to this sacred event, they celebrate Pascha!

• They believe that on the They believe that on the day of Easter, Jesus Christ day of Easter, Jesus Christ rose from the dead, on the rose from the dead, on the third day after his third day after his crucifixion.crucifixion.

• Hence, the feast is Hence, the feast is regarded as an integral regarded as an integral part of every Christian part of every Christian household.household.

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Some more interesting facts about Easter:

• Rabbits and eggs are considered as symbols of Rabbits and eggs are considered as symbols of fertility. It makes them suitable symbols for fertility. It makes them suitable symbols for EasterEaster

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The EASTER BUNNY is

originated with the

rabbit or hare, an ancient symbol

for the moon

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According to a legend the bunny was a large bird belonging to the Goddess of

Spring who changed the bird into a rabbit

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The First chocolate Easter eggs and rabbits were made in the 19th

century in Germany

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You are to collect eggs today!!!

One point = one egg!!!

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Game: Easter Symbols

These are a few Easter symbols that are often used to represent the

feast of Easter

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The CrossThe Cross

RepresentsRepresents

the Crucifixionthe Crucifixion

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Eggs

Signify new life

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Chickens and Bunnies

• Like eggs symbolize new life

• An Easter Bunny is similar to the Santa Claus of Christmas

• It delivers Easter eggs for children on Easter

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Easter Flowers

• Signify innocence, purity and the spring season

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White Lilies Tulips

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White Lilies Tulips

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Easter Bonnet Hats – it was believed that wearing something new on Easter

would bring good luck

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Easter Parade in New York is a real fun for those

who likes unusual hats

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Easter Candles

Signify the ray of hope

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Hot Cross Buns

The symbol of the Crucifixion

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Butterflies

• The first stage of the butterfly when it is a caterpillar, symbolizes the life of Jesus on earth

• The cocoon stage highlights the Crucifixion

• The third stage when the insect transforms into a butterfly signifies Jesus' Resurrection

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Butterflies

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Meeting the Easter Bunny

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Hot Cross Buns

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• The word ‘ buns’ is

derived from the word ‘ boun’ which means ‘sacred ox’.

• Cross buns served as a charm against

shipwreck, bad luck and even fire

HOT CROSS BUNS

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Hot Cross Buns Song (Lyrics)

Hot cross buns!Hot cross buns!

One a penny, two a penny,Hot cross buns!

If you have no daughters,Give them to your sons

One a penny,Two a penny,

Hot Cross Buns!

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Easter Egg Rolling in Washington DC

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Easter Eggs Hunt Eggs are hidden for you to find. They may

be left by the Easter Bunny.

They also may be put in a basket filled with real or artificial straw to resemble a bird's

nest.

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Easter Wishes

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May your hearts be filled with peace

and joy this Easter. Happy Easter!

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May you have a pleasant Easter!

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DEAR GUESTS!WE WISH YOU HAPPY

EASTER!

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The End!Thank you for your

time!

Any Questions?