“The very first Easter taught us this: that life never ends and love
never dies.”
Kate McGahan, American writer and grief counsellor
1. Easter Discussion
1. Is Easter celebrated in your country? If so, what happens?
2. What is the origin of Easter? Do you think this original meaning has become lost?
3. How does your family celebrate Easter? Do you have any special traditions?
4. What special food is associated with Easter in your country?
5. Do children get chocolate eggs or decorate eggs in your country? Do they have Easter egg hunts?
If not, do you think these would be a good idea? Are they appropriate for this holiday?
6. Do people get time off work at Easter in your country? If so, what do they do during this time?
7. Is Easter Monday a holiday in your country? If so, what do people usually do on that day?
8. Which countries do you think it would be interesting to spend Easter in?
2. Easter Vocabulary
• Easter bunny (noun) – a folkloric symbol of Easter in the form of a rabbit in certain cultures which
lays or brings Easter eggs.
• Lent (noun) – a 40-day period of fasting and penitence beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending the
night before Easter Sunday.
• Shrove Tuesday (noun) – the day before Lent and host to many carnivals and festivals around the
Christian world.
• The Last Supper (noun) – the last meal Jesus had with his disciples before his arrest and crucifixion
(observed on Maundy Thursday).
• Good Friday (noun) – the day Jesus was crucified.
• Judas (noun) – a person who betrays another.
Using the vocabulary words above, complete the following sentences (remember to use the correct
form of the word, e.g. verb conjugation or plural noun):
1. Tottenham fans consider Sol Campbell to be a Judas after he moved to their North London rivals
Arsenal.
2. After The Last Supper, Jesus was betrayed by his disciple Judas.
3. I’m giving up chocolate and ice cream for Lent.
4. On Shrove Tuesday, New Orleans celebrates Mardi Gras, Rio celebrates Carnival, and in England,
the people make pancakes.
5. A lot of people get confused as to why it would be called Good Friday, but in this sense, ‘good’
means ‘holy’.
6. When Lindt’s golden-wrapped chocolate Easter Bunny appears on the shelves in the shops, you
know it’s nearly Easter.
Easter vocabulary comprehension questions
1. Does the Easter bunny visit children in your country?
2. What do/would you give up for Lent?
3. Are there any celebrations on Shrove Tuesday in your country?
4. What happened at the Last Supper?
5. What happens in your country on Good Friday?
6. Can you think of any examples of Judases?
3. Video: The History of Easter
You are going to watch a video by History called “History of the Holidays: Easter.”
Watch the video here: [Link]
While you watch the video, answer the following questions:
Multiple choice
1. What does Easter celebrate?
a) The crucifixion of Jesus b) the Last Supper c) Jesus’ return from the dead
2. Passover is a holiday in which religion?
a) Christianity b) Hinduism c) Judaism
3. On which day was Jesus crucified?
a) Good Friday b) Great Friday c) God Friday
4. How many days after being crucified did Jesus rise from the dead?
a) 1 b) 2 c) 3
Sentence completion
5. In 325AD, Emperor Constantine ruled that Easter must only be celebrated on a Sunday.
6. Easter falls on the first Sunday after the full moon of spring equinox.
7. The Pascua Candle represents Christ’s resurrection: light out of darkness.
8. The word Easter may originate from Eostre, the pagan god of spring and fertility.
Short answer
9. What do eggs symbolise? Birth
10. Where has egg rolling taken place since 1876? The White House (lawn)
11. What did the rabbit symbolise in European pagan celebrations? New life
12. What did 19th century chocolatiers start making? Egg-shaped chocolates
4. Easter Conversation Questions
1. Why are eggs and rabbits associated with Easter? Is it wrong to associate rabbits and eggs with
Easter? Why or why not?
2. Why does the date of Easter change every year? Would you prefer it if it were on the same date
every year?
3. Why was Jesus crucified? What did he die for?
4. The Bible does not mention the date on which Jesus was resurrected, so how was it decided
when to celebrate Easter?
5. Which is the best holiday: Easter or Christmas? Why?
6. According to the Christian Church, Easter is more important than Christmas. Why do you think
that is and do you agree?
7. Has Easter become too commercialised?
8. What is the true meaning of Easter?
5. Easter Writing Task
Write about your opinion of Easter. Try to use some of the vocabulary you learned earlier in this lesson.
In your answer, you could include some of the following topics:
• The origins of Easter.
• Traditions associated with Easter.
• How you celebrate Easter.
Alternative exam practice question:
These days, as Easter is celebrated more for chocolate than its original religious meaning, many people
say that schools should teach children about the true origins of the festival. Do you agree or disagree
with this?
