Don’t worry we’re not about to tell you the Easter bunny isn’t coming this year. To help us with our cultural and language learning, we’ve been eating chocolate eggs and reading about Easter (a lot) and now we’ve got questions …
A symbol of fertility and new life (they can make up to 14 bunnies in one go and get pregnant while they are already pregnant) rabbits have been a part of springtime tradition since ancient times, and so too has the egg.
Many ancient Egyptians, Persians and Hindus believed the world began with an huge egg. It’s also thought that the Anglo-Saxon Goddess of Spring, Eostre had a hare as her companion.
In the 1700s, German immigrants brought the ‘Osterhase’ tradition with them to America – a hare that laid colourful eggs.
There is evidence of egg colouring in early Christian North African tribes. And as far back as the 13th century, it’s believed painting eggs was a celebration of being able to eat them again, as they were forbidden over Lent.
From Sweden to Germany, the UK to France, people will be hiding Easter eggs all over the place – hard boiled, chocolate or filled with sweets. And lots of little ones (and some adults – like us) will be hunting them out.
In Egypt children roll red and yellow eggs. In Denmark they’re rolled down slopes of grassland or forest. In Germany they’re rolled down a track made of sticks. In America, some children are invited to roll theirs on the White House lawn.
The Easter bunny’s giving you one last chance to get a 25% discount on a Premium Membership.
You’ll be fluent, quicker:
Our promotion ends on the 21st of April 2014. Become Premium for less!
