Have you heard about Easter?

Is this a special event/holiday in your country?

Why do you think people would paint eggs?

In western countries people remember Easter in April every year. This is to pay respect to the death of Jesus Christ and of new birth.

So why do we hand out colored eggs to each other? And why do we buy chocolate eggs to eat at this time of year? Was it only about Christian customs?

Decorating eggs is quite ancient. Even decorated eggs from 60,000 years ago have been found in Africa. Before the time of the Pharoah dynasties in Egypt the early cultures of that area decorated eggs as reminders of death and new life. These cultural relationships may have had an effect on early Christian and Islamic cultures in those areas.

According to many, the Christian custom of Easter eggs, specifically, started among the early Christians of the area around Greece. They painted the eggs red to remember the blood from the death of Jesus Christ. The Christian Church officially accepted the custom of painting eggs as a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus.

Try to guess the meaning of the words in bold and match them with their closest meaning from the choices in the right. Some of the answers are very close and have similar meaning. The meaning of these words is how they are used in the reading. Some of these words have different meanings in the dictionary depending on how they are used.

 The answers are below the table.

A=1, B=8, C=2, D=7, E=6, F=4, G=5, H=3

Some example sentences using the new words or phrases from the meaning of how they are used in the reading to help you understand better.

1. People in China, Korea, and Japan pay respect to the elders at Chuseok. And Chuseok is the specific time of year when elders give money to children.

2. The government is handing out free masks to people.

3. Let’s decorate this birthday cake with sugar coating and toys.

4. In ancient times, Korea had 3 kingdoms.

5. It is a custom to give something to an elder with two hands.

6. Rolls Royce Bentley cars are a symbol of a rich life.

7. We can resurrect this old piano. It has not been used for many years but after we clean it then it will be beautiful again.

    

    

    

Some questions using the new words/phrases. Try to use the words/phrases in your answer.

1. What ways do people in your culture pay respect to elders and other people?

2. What things do people hand out in your culture during Lunar New Year?

3. What decorations do you like on cakes? How do you like to decorate your room or some other place?

4. What is interesting about the ancient times in your country?

5. What is a custom in your culture that respect? That you would like to see change?

6. Describe a symbol for your culture.

7. Are there some old ways of doing things, ideas, things, you would like to resurrect in your country/culture/school or other place?

8. What did you find specifically interesting about today’s lesson?