Easter Vocabulary

Source: Adapted from the BBC Website. http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/news_and_events/events_eastertraditions.shtml

Lesson Worksheet: Cultured Learning

Level: Upper Intermediate / Advanced

Easter around the world

While we’re happily scoffing chocolate eggs and hot cross buns in the UK at Easter, around the world a wealth of other symbolic dishes are being enjoyed.

Simnel cake

Lent is the period of 40 days which comes before Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday. For many Christians, this is a period of fasting and repentance in preparation for Easter, culminating in a feast of seasonal and symbolic foods. In the late 17th century, girls in service brought a rich fruit cake called simnel cake home to their mothers on the fourth Sunday of Lent. The cake was enriched with marzipan and decorated with 11 marzipan balls representing the 12 apostles minus Judas, who betrayed Christ.

Hot cross buns

The Greeks and Egyptians ate small cakes or buns in honour of the respective goddesses that they worshipped. Buns marked with a cross were eaten by the Saxons to honour their goddess Eostre - it is thought the bun represented the moon and the cross the moon’s quarters. To Christians, the cross symbolises the crucifixion.

Easter eggs

Throughout history, eggs have been associated with Easter celebrations. In ancient times, the egg was a symbol of fertility and new beginnings. Christians adopted this to represent their Saviour’s resurrection.

The tradition of colouring eggs in bright colours - representing the sunlight of spring - goes back to the Middle Ages and is still an important custom for many Christians. In Germany it’s traditional to paint eggs green and eat them on Maundy Thursday while in Greek and Slavic cultures eggs are dyed red as a symbol of the blood of Christ.

As time has gone on, the decoration has become more elaborate with colourful patterns, images of flora and fauna, and in some cases delicate gold and silver leaf details. The most famous and ornate of Easter eggs must be the jewelled and enamelled eggs that Fabergé was commissioned to make for the Russian tsars.

Interesting phrases and vocabulary

Word or phrase		Definition
1. scoffing Easter eggs	to scoff (vb) informal	To eat lots of delicious food very quickly and greedily (like a pig!)
2. dishes from around the world	a dish (n)	Different types of food.
3. a period of fasting	to fast (vb)	To not eat or do something you like doing because you want to do something special for religious reasons, or for medical reasons.
4. a period of repentance	repentance (n)	To feel sorry for doing something wrong.
5. girls in service	service (n)	Young women who worked as house maids for rich families.
6. they ate cakes…in honour of their goddessess	honour (n)	To show you love and respect someone.
7. Christians adopted this	to adopt (vb)	To use or take something for yourself.
8. The tradition…goes back to	go back to (participle phrase)	To start a long time ago.
9. eggs are dyed red	to dye (vb)	To change the colour of something.
10. As time has gone on	go on (phrasal verb)	To continue.

Test yourself.

Fill in the missing words. You may need to change the form.

1. The speech was so boring. It _______ ____ for ages, I nearly fell asleep!

2. The judge hoped that a long prison sentence would make the criminal feel a strong sense of ___________.

3. The doctor told him not to eat or drink because he had to _______ for 4 hours before the operation.

4. At a buffet there are lots of different ___________ you can choose from.

5. The idea was so good, that many companies soon _______________ it.

6. My mum went mad at me because I __________ my hair bright red!

7. Before the First World War, it was quite common for young men and women to work ___ __________ for a big family.

8. In Britain, lots of people wear red poppies (flowers) in November ___ ________ of all the people who died in wars.

9. Did you know that the world wide web was invented by Tim Berners Lee in the 1990s, but the idea may actually ______ _______ ____ 1930s Kent, when the famous science fiction writer, H.G. Wells wrote about a “world brain” in his book “The work, wealth and happiness of mankind.”

10. I was so hungry, I just _______ down all the food!

Answer Key

1. went on

2. repentance

3. fast

4. dishes

5. adopted

6. dyed

7. in service

8. in honour of

9. go back to

10. scoffed

So, how did you do? If you got more than 6 right, you definitely deserve and extra Easter egg! Have a lovely Easter!