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EASTER IN THE US

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  • Not everyone in the US celebrates Easter because not everyone is Catholic
  • Catholics get ashes on Ash Wednesday
  • Few people observe lent
  • If they do, they usually give up something, like watching TV or eating chocolate or they do something nice, like help at a homeless shelter or help around the house

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  • Few Catholics go to mass on Good Friday
  • There is a mass that is held at night called the Easter Vigil where the entire church is lit with candles
  • On Easter morning, many Catholics go to mass dressed up in spring clothes

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THE EASTER BUNNY: HISTORY

  • The symbol originated from the pagan festival of Eastre
  • The goddess Eastre was worshipped through her symbol, the rabbit
  • The hare and the rabbit are the most fertile animals and represent new life in spring

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THE EASTER BUNNY: HISTORY

  • The German immigrants brought the Easter Bunny tradition to America when they came
  • Children believed that the rabbit would lay them colored eggs
  • So they built nests around the house for the eggs
  • This is how the tradition of the easter basket started
  • At malls all over the US, little children take pictures with the Easter Bunny dressed in their Easter clothes

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EASTER BASKETS

  • The night of Holy Saturday, children leave baskets out before going to bed
  • When they wake up, if they were good, the Easter Bunny will have come during the night and filled their baskets
  • Today they are filled with chocolate eggs,chocolate Easter bunnies, sweets, and small gifts

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EASTER EGG HUNT

  • Some families hide Easter eggs around the house and children have an Easter Egg Hunt
  • The child who finds the most eggs wins
  • My mother puts clues in plastic eggs to make the hunt harder
  • There are often big Easter Egg Hunts in the center of town and anyone can go and participate

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DYEING EASTER EGGS

  • Children hard-boil eggs
  • When they are cold, they color on them with a white crayon
  • They dip them into all different color dyes
  • Each egg is different, with different colors and designs
  • After Easter, many families eat the hard-boiled eggs or make egg salad

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EASTER PARADE

  • Easter morning there is an Easter parade in New York City
  • It is shown on TV everywhere
  • People try and win the most original and creative “Easter Bonnet” contest

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EASTER DINNER

  • Baked ham
  • Potatoes
  • Vegetables

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HERE COMES PETER COTTONTAIL

  • Here comes Peter Cottontail�Hoppin' down the bunny trail,�Hippity hoppity,�Easter's on its way��Bringin' ev'ry girl and boy�A basketful of Easter joy�Things to make your Easter�Bright and gay
  • He's got jelly beans for Tommy�Colored eggs for sister Sue�There's an orchid for your mommy�And an Easter bonnet too. Oh!��Here' comes Peter Cottontail�Hoppin' down the bunny trail�Hippity hoppity�Happy Easter Day��Look at him hop and listen to him say,�"Try to do the things you should"�Maybe if you're extra good�He'll roll lots of Easter eggs your way��You'll wake up on Easter morning�And you'll know that he was there�When you find those choc'late bunnies That he's hiding ev’rywhere, Oh!��Here' comes Peter Cottontail��Hoppin' down the bunny trail�Hippity hoppity�Happy Easter Day

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