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Easter Around the World
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Comprehension Questions
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Geography Challenge
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Pictures of Miss G
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Independent Reading
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I am sure you all have some of your favourite Easter traditions, but have you ever wondered what Easter looks like for people that live in other parts of the world? Read about the traditions of 7 different places down below:
(Information found at https://www.womansday.com/life/travel-tips/g2175/easter-traditions/)
Australia
In 1991, Rabbit-Free Australia launched a campaign to replace the Easter bunny with the Easter bilby, or rabbit-eared bandicoot. Why the bunny hate? In Australia, rabbits are widely considered pests for destroying crops and land. Companies now make chocolate bilbies for Easter, with proceeds benefiting the endangered animals.
Florence, Italy
In Florence Italy, locals celebrate a 350-year-old Easter tradition known as Scoppio del Carro, or "explosion of the cart." An ornate cart packed with fireworks is led through the streets of the city by people in colorful 15th century costumes before stopping outside the Duomo; the Archbishop of Florence then lights a fuse during Easter mass that leads outside to the cart and sparks a lively fireworks display. The meaning behind the custom dates back to the First Crusade, and is meant to ensure a good harvest.
Finland
Children in the Scandinavian country of Finland dress up like witches and go begging for chocolate eggs in the streets with made-up faces and scarves around their heads, carrying bunches of willow twigs decorated with feathers. In some parts of Western Finland, people burn bonfires on Easter Sunday, a Nordic tradition stemming from the belief that the flames ward off witches who fly around on brooms between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Poland
Pouring water on one another is a Polish Easter tradition called Śmigus-dyngus. On Easter Monday, boys try to drench other people with buckets of water, squirt guns or anything they can get their hands on. Legend says girls who get soaked will marry within the year. The refreshing tradition has its origins in the baptism of Polish Prince Mieszko on Easter Monday in 966 AD.
Corfu, Greece
On the morning of Holy Saturday, the traditional "pot throwing" takes place on the Greek island of Corfu: People throw pots, pans and other earthenware out of their windows, smashing them on the street. Some say the custom derives from the Venetians, who on New Year's Day used to throw out all of their old items. Others believe the throwing of the pots welcomes spring, symbolizing the new crops that will be gathered in the new pots.
Norway
Easter is such a popular time for Norwegians to read crime novels that publishers actually come out with special "Easter thrillers" known as Paaskekrimmen. The tradition is said to have started in 1923 when a book publisher promoted its new crime novel on the front pages of newspapers. The ads resembled news so much that people didn't know it was a publicity stunt.
Vatican City
On Good Friday the Pope commemorates the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) at the Colosseum: A huge cross with burning torches illuminates the sky as the 14 Stations of the Cross are described in several languages. Mass is celebrated on the evening of Holy Saturday, and on Easter Sunday, thousands of visitors congregate in St. Peter's Square to await the Pope's blessing from the church's balcony, known as "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the City and to the World").
In 1991, Rabbit-Free Australia launched a campaign to replace the Easter bunny with the Easter bilby, or rabbit-eared bandicoot. Why the bunny hate? In Australia, rabbits are widely considered pests for destroying crops and land. Companies now make chocolate bilbies for Easter, with proceeds benefiting the endangered animals.
Florence, Italy
In Florence Italy, locals celebrate a 350-year-old Easter tradition known as Scoppio del Carro, or "explosion of the cart." An ornate cart packed with fireworks is led through the streets of the city by people in colorful 15th century costumes before stopping outside the Duomo; the Archbishop of Florence then lights a fuse during Easter mass that leads outside to the cart and sparks a lively fireworks display. The meaning behind the custom dates back to the First Crusade, and is meant to ensure a good harvest.
Finland
Children in the Scandinavian country of Finland dress up like witches and go begging for chocolate eggs in the streets with made-up faces and scarves around their heads, carrying bunches of willow twigs decorated with feathers. In some parts of Western Finland, people burn bonfires on Easter Sunday, a Nordic tradition stemming from the belief that the flames ward off witches who fly around on brooms between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Poland
Pouring water on one another is a Polish Easter tradition called Śmigus-dyngus. On Easter Monday, boys try to drench other people with buckets of water, squirt guns or anything they can get their hands on. Legend says girls who get soaked will marry within the year. The refreshing tradition has its origins in the baptism of Polish Prince Mieszko on Easter Monday in 966 AD.
Corfu, Greece
On the morning of Holy Saturday, the traditional "pot throwing" takes place on the Greek island of Corfu: People throw pots, pans and other earthenware out of their windows, smashing them on the street. Some say the custom derives from the Venetians, who on New Year's Day used to throw out all of their old items. Others believe the throwing of the pots welcomes spring, symbolizing the new crops that will be gathered in the new pots.
Norway
Easter is such a popular time for Norwegians to read crime novels that publishers actually come out with special "Easter thrillers" known as Paaskekrimmen. The tradition is said to have started in 1923 when a book publisher promoted its new crime novel on the front pages of newspapers. The ads resembled news so much that people didn't know it was a publicity stunt.
Vatican City
On Good Friday the Pope commemorates the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) at the Colosseum: A huge cross with burning torches illuminates the sky as the 14 Stations of the Cross are described in several languages. Mass is celebrated on the evening of Holy Saturday, and on Easter Sunday, thousands of visitors congregate in St. Peter's Square to await the Pope's blessing from the church's balcony, known as "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the City and to the World").
1. What are two reasons that it is believed that people of Corfu, Greece throw old pots and pans out their windows?
2. Do you agree with the campaign that was launched in Australia to replace the Easter bunny? Why or why not?
3. What is said to happen to girls that get soaked in a massive water fight in Poland?
4. What does the Italian phrase Scoppio del Carro mean in English?
5. How is the Finnish tradition on Easter similar to our Halloween traditions? How is it different?
2. Do you agree with the campaign that was launched in Australia to replace the Easter bunny? Why or why not?
3. What is said to happen to girls that get soaked in a massive water fight in Poland?
4. What does the Italian phrase Scoppio del Carro mean in English?
5. How is the Finnish tradition on Easter similar to our Halloween traditions? How is it different?
Please complete these comprehension questions and send a picture of them to me by the end of the week.
Just for fun - here are some pictures of me at each of the places you've read about. It was fun to go back through some old pictures to find all of these.
Miss Gerritsen and her brother, Nicholas in Sydney Australia, 2018. Miss Gerritsen on a dance trip in 2008. This is a group shot in Florence, Italy. Miss Gerritsen with her mom, and friend from Hong Kong in Helsinki, Finland, 2018. Miss Gerritsen and her family in front of the Acropolis in Greece, 2011. Miss Gerritsen on the edge of a cliff in the Fjords of Norway, 2018. Miss Gerritsen and her friends in Rome (Vatican City is the smallest country in the world and is located inside the city of Rome) on her Grade 12 trip to Italy, 2010. Can you spot me in the group? |
I'd like you to all continue to read your book of choice independently for at least 20 minutes a day!
While you are reading, it is always good to reflect on your book! I will attach the reading response prompts below. I'd like you to answer one each time you read. You can either record your answers in a notebook, discuss them with another person in your house, or just take some time to think about them and answer in your head.
Another option is to complete a reading log to keep track of awesome new words that you are learning! You can either fill this out in a notebook, or click the link below to print it out and record on there.
Another option is to complete a reading log to keep track of awesome new words that you are learning! You can either fill this out in a notebook, or click the link below to print it out and record on there.
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Easter Around the World Reading and Comprehension | |
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Easter Geography Challenge | |
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