Easter in America and England

It’s always rewarding to have an Easter topic on Easter for my students. This year we talked about Easter in America and England. The article depicts real people’s experiences. Students also received a chocolate egg from the teachers.

IN AMERICA
The rituals start on Shrove Tuesday1 (usually called Fat Tuesday here), the day be-fore Lent2, when people eat lots of pancakes and sweets.The next day is Ash Wednesday3, the start of Lent – people go to church and give up something for the 40 days before Easter – usually chocolate, ice cream, or another favourite treat.People attend church often during this period, especially during Holy Week.When Easter is near, people colour eggs and decorate the house, especially the table in the dining room.

On Easter morning, children receive baskets from the Easter Bunny filled with large chocolate bunnies and different kinds of chocolate eggs.This is the most important day on the Christian calendar, so there is a grand church service.After this, an Easter egg hunt takes place on the church lawn.There is a festive dinner at home with ham, sweet bread, scalloped potatoes, and different vegetable dishes.On this day, people also like to have lots of whatever they gave up for Lent!.

IN ENGLAND
On Shrove Tuesday (usually called Pancake Tuesday here), people eat pancakes all day long, traditionally with lemon and sugar and different toppings.In preparation for Easter, the house is decorated with hand-painted eggs, cute toy chicks, bunnies, gingerbread, and spring flowers such as daffodils, tulips, and primroses.On Easter Sunday, the family gets together.The main meal is roast lamb with roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding, and there are warm hot cross buns4 for dessert.Then the children go into the garden to hunt for chocolate eggs from the Easter Bunny.

Source:
Jeanne-Marie Wallnau, USA, teacher 50+
gradus.cz.