Easter traditions

For Christians Easter is the most important religious holiday. It celebrates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. A lot of Easter customs exist in various countries.

In Poland the whole families gather together to celebrate Easter. On Holy Saturday they prepare special Easter baskets. The baskets contain eggs, bread, meat, salt, horseradish and a figure of lamb made of sugar or cake, which represent the Lamb of God – Jesus Christ. The baskets are decorated with white cloth and box twigs. Once a basket is ready, it is taken to a local church where a priest blesses it with holy water. On Holy Sunday a great Easter breakfast takes place, when family members eat the contents of their baskets and much more.

In the United Kingdom and the United States parents prepare for Easter by buying chocolate eggs and bunnies or similar items made of sugar. On Saturday morning they hide the treats in their gardens where children go looking for them. Some children receive small gifts given to them by an Easter Bunny. Special games take place such us egg rolling (a race with rolling eggs on the grass) and egg tapping. There are some foods associated with Easter,such as hot cross buns (sweet buns with spices), Simnel cake (fruitcake with marzipan) and roasts. 

Prepositions of Time: at, in, on

In English we use in before months, years, centuries and parts of the day:

• in 1997           I was born in 1984.
• in January          In England, it often snows in December.
• in the 20th century          There should be a lot of progress in the next century.
• in the morning          I usually meet my friends in the evening.
• in the Ice Age          Mammoths became extinct in the Ice Age.
• in the summer          
• in the 1990s          
• in the past/future          Do you think we will go to Jupiter in the future?