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The
Holiday Spot Website |
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Easter all over
the
world... |
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AFRICA
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In Africa, Easter has a
social dimension as well as a spiritual one. At Easter families come
together. They share special food with Christians and non-Christians
indulging in boiled or roasted rice with meat or chicken. Meat being very
scarce and expensive in Africa, the laws of abstinence (not eating meat)
does not hold good. In the Easter Vigil hundreds of people assemble in the
church building which decorated by Vitenge and Kanga, clothes
made up in
the form of butterflies, flowers, banana trees, etc. Hymns are accompanied
by the beating of drums and Kigelegele, the high-pitched sounds made by
women. After the Mass, traditional dances are held outside of the church.
Then people return home to continue their celebrations with local food and
drinks.
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ARGENTINA
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Argentinians call it Las
Pascuas. As in Spain and most South American countries, Easter
celebration in Argentina is held as a combination of two separate big
observances: Semana Santa and Pascua. The former means the whole of the
Holy Week (Palm Sunday or Domingo de Ramos, to Easter Saturday).
And the Pascua is the observance for the period from the Resurrection
Sunday to the following Saturday and in many communities the full Passion
Play is represented or performed. For most people, this two-week period is
the time for a great vacation and they enjoy this time with the community
of their choice. |
AUSTRALIA
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This country has people
from different parts of the world, so Easter is celebrated in a variety of
ways. The main day of celebration of families of Anglo-Irish backgrounds
is Easter Sunday. Some people go to church services and have hot cross
buns for breakfast. These are a sweet fruit bun, which may have a cross on
top. Children exchange Easter eggs, which are usually made of chocolate.
Some are now made from sugar and have little toys inside. The chocolate
eggs are available in an egg shape, from tiny little ones to giant ones.
Some chocolate eggs are also in the shape of cheeky looking rabbits. In
recent years Easter
bilbies have also been made. The bilby is a native
animal in Australia. It is an endangered species. Chocolate manufacturers
decided to make Easter bilbies and give some of their profits to help
protect these animals from extinction. Children don’t worry about the
shape. They just love the chocolate!
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ENGLAND
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Easter is celebrated by
exchange of Easter Eggs. Gift range may vary from anything between money,
clothes, chocolate or go on holidays together. Some people make Easter
bonnets or baskets, which have things like
daffodils in them or mini eggs.
Children sometimes go to a local community center to enter an Easter
bonnet competition to see whose bonnet is the best and the winner gets an
Easter egg. The Easter bunny is very much a part of the Easter tradition
in England. The shops are filled with thousands which people buy to give
to each other.
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FRANCE
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The French call it
Paques. The main celebration
sets off on Good Friday with a solemn
note. Church bells do not ring for three days starting from Good Friday
till the Easter Sunday. Early on Easter morning the children rush into the
garden to watch the bells "Fly back from Rome". As the small folk scan the
sky for
a glimpse of the returning bells their elders hide chocolate
eggs. In medieval times there was a superstition which stated that “the
church bells which had not been heard since Holy Thursday had been to Rome
for the Pope's blessings and returned on Easter Eve with colored eggs for
everyone”.
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GERMANY
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The German call it
Ostern. School children have about three weeks holiday at Easter, and
no one works on Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday. Many
people eat fish on Good Friday, and on Easter Saturday evening there is
often a big Easter
bonfire which is very popular. On Easter Sunday
families have nice breakfasts together. Parents then hide Easter baskets
with sweets, eggs and small presents. Hand-painted eggs decorated with
traditional designs are exchanged among friends. |
ITALY
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Italians call it La
Pasqua. The Easter is celebrated with a real big feast in this
Mediterranean country. The Paschal feast is celebrated with Agnellino,
Italy's special popular dish for the Easter. This is a roasted baby lamb.
Children enjoy a rich bread made specially for the Easter.
It is shaped
like a crown and
studded with colored Easter egg candies.
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SWEDEN
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The Swedish call it
Paskdagen. Throughout the country the egg, symbol of life and
resurrection, is featured in all Easter food and Easter games. Every
household has egg coloring parties. Egg rolling contests are the favorite
Easter activity of younger boys and girls. Palm Sunday is observed with
palm
fronds. The Easter Eve is celebrated with bonfires. Shooting of
fireworks lives on as the tradition. |
NETHERLANDS |
The Dutch call it Pasen or Pasen
Zontag. Throughout the country Easter is celebrated as a great spring
holiday. People lay tables for Easter dinner with charming decoration of
colored eggs and early flowers. Sweet bread
stuffed with raisins and
currant is one of the favorite dishes of the Easter feast.
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SOURCE:
The Holiday Spot Website
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GLOSSARY |
indulging in: enjoying (disfrutando)
scarce: not easily found (escasa)
made up: arranged (arregladas, decoradas)
bilbies: Australian rabbits (conejos australianos)
bonnets: hats (sombreros, bonetes)
daffodils: Narcissus plants (narcisos)
sets off: starts, begins (arranca, se inicia) |
a glimpse: a quick look (un vistazo, una mirada rápida)
bonfire: a large outdoor fire (fogata)
it is shaped like: it has the shape of (tiene la forma de)
studded: adorned (adornado, decorado)
fronds: leaves (hojas)
stuffed with: filled with (rellenos de) |
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MAS "FESTIVIDADES"
FORO
INICIO |
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