Lesson & Activities - Celebrating Easter: Traditions, Origins, Activities & Popular Gift Ideas
- Learn English with NETOL
- Apr 19, 2025
- 8 min read
Updated: Jan 1
✦ This lesson includes these sections:
✦ Click on each section from above to see it ↑
✦ Click on each title box from below to get back here ↓
Celebrating Easter:
Traditions, Origins, Activities & Popular Gift Ideas
Speaking Activity
Conversation Questions
Instructions:
Listen to and read the conversation questions.
Practice your speaking by answering each question out loud.
See some possible answers to the conversation questions by clicking the side arrows next to each question.
Conversation Questions
1. What do you know about Easter?
I know that Easter is a holiday that is full of special traditions like egg hunts, decorating eggs, and spending time with family and friends
2. Why is Easter important to so many people?
Easter is important because it symbolizes hope and new beginnings.
3. Do you have a favourite Easter treat?
Yes, chocolate eggs are my favourite Easter treat.
4. Have you ever decorated Easter eggs?
Yes, I have painted eggs with bright colours and they turned out great.
5. What kind of flowers do you see at Easter?
I often see lilies, tulips, daisies, and other spring flowers.
6. Can you name a fun activity that people do during the Easter holiday?
A fun activity that people do during the Easter holiday is joining in on an Easter egg hunt.
Writing Activity
Pre-Reading Vocabulary
Instructions:
Get a pencil and paper.
Copy the words from below.
Look up the definitions of the words online.
Get to know the definitions of each word
Important Words - Celebrating Easter
heartwarming
spring equinox
statutory holiday
origins
resurrection
customs
commemorate
symbols
hot cross buns
tale
bunny
hope
Reading Activity
Celebrating Easter:
Traditions, Origins, Activities & Popular Gift Ideas
Instructions:
Read the following passage about Easter
Thereafter, listen to - What Is Easter? Exploring Traditions, Origins, Activities and Popular Gift Ideas audio.
Note: Reading out loud when learning a new language is important because it helps you practice your pronunciation. When you speak the words, you can hear how they sound, and this will improve your speaking skills.
What is Easter?
Easter is a heartwarming holiday that is filled with joy, family gatherings, and a variety of exciting activities. This day marks the beginning of a season full of hope and new beginnings.
When is Easter Celebrated?
Easter is celebrated on a Sunday, but the actual date changes each year. It usually falls between March 22 and April 25, depending on the first full moon following the Spring Equinox. This method of calculating Easter ensures that the holiday is closely tied to the arrival of spring.
The Origins of Easter
Easter began long ago as a celebration of new life and the start of spring. Over time, it became a festival with many customs and symbols enjoyed worldwide. Easter has its roots in Christianity, marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ. According to Christian belief, Jesus rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion. This celebration began as early as the 2nd century. Early Christians wanted to commemorate this important event, creating the foundations of what we know today as Easter.
Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday
Good Friday is on the Friday before Easter Sunday. It is a statutory holiday in many parts of the world. Good Friday is a day when many people remember the suffering and death of Jesus. Easter Sunday is a joyful day celebrating Jesus' resurrection, which fills homes with hope. Easter Monday is not a statutory holiday for everyone, but many schools remain closed on this day to extend the festive spirit of the long Easter weekend, allowing families to have more time together and enjoy the beginning of the spring season.
Which Countries Celebrate Easter?
Easter is celebrated in many countries around the world. In places such as Canada, the United States, Australia, and various European nations, people come together to share traditions that honour the spirit of the season.
Decorating Homes for Easter
Many families decorate their homes with bright colours and Easter symbols. They hang decorations like painted eggs, Easter wreaths, spring flowers, and sometimes little bunnies, ducklings, or lamb figurines. These decorations make every home feel fun and happy.
The lily is a popular Easter spring flower that symbolizes new life and hope. Its white colour and trumpet-shaped petals are often seen in churches and homes during the season, marking the arrival of spring. The lily represents beauty and peace, reminding us that Easter is a time for fresh starts and joy.
Easter Traditions
Easter traditions can differ widely around the world, with each culture adding its special touch. For example, many families attend church services on Easter Sunday, celebrating the day with their local community. After church, it's common for families to gather for a festive meal. Thereafter, eating chocolate eggs or hot cross buns, which are sweet buns that are marked with a cross.
Popular Easter Activities
Easter is a special time of year when people celebrate with fun activities. Many families and friends come together to enjoy many activities. These activities bring joy and excitement to both children and adults, making Easter a memorable holiday for everyone.
Having an Easter egg hunt
Children excitedly search for eggs filled with candy or small toys.
Decorating Easter eggs
Families gather to paint and decorate hard-boiled eggs with various unique patterns and designs.
Making Easter baskets
Crafting personalized baskets filled with goodies for family and friends.
Doing Spring-themed crafts
Creating bunny masks, flower decorations, or Easter cards for family and friends using craft supplies.
Baking Easter treats
Making traditional Easter cookies, cakes, or breads, such as hot cross buns.
Eating A Festive Easter Meal
Hosting or attending a special meal with family and friends featuring seasonal dishes.
Reading Easter-themed books
Sharing stories about Easter traditions and themes with children.
Playing Easter-themed games
Organizing games like egg toss or bunny hop races for kids.
Watching Easter movies
Watching family-friendly movies that celebrate Easter themes.
Planting spring flowers
Engaging in gardening activities to plant flowers that bloom in spring.
Attending church services
Participating in special Easter services at local churches.
Going to Easter parades
Gathering to watch colourful floats and people who are dressed in festive clothing march through the streets, celebrating the spirit of Easter.
Participating in Easter community events
Local communities host many events, including crafts, games, and food fairs, where people can come together and enjoy the holiday atmosphere.
Organizing a charity drive
Collecting food or donations for those in need during the Easter season.
These activities not only bond families but also enhance the festive spirit surrounding Easter.
The Reason Behind Egg Colouring?
Colouring eggs is an exciting and creative activity that people enjoy doing during Easter. People dye eggs in lively colours and apply various designs to beautify them.. But why do we colour eggs?
The practice is believed to have started in ancient societies, where painted eggs signified spring celebrations. Eggs are a symbol of new life, and by colouring and decorating them, people celebrate nature and the start of spring. Today, this activity brings creativity and happiness to many families.
Who Is The Easter Bunny?
The Easter Bunny is a special part of the Easter holiday celebration. It is a kind animal that brings joy and surprises to children. The Easter bunny is often shown delivering eggs, yummy treats, and thoughtful gifts to children. Many children love the magic of the Easter Bunny, and this makes the Easter celebration even more special and fun.
The Easter Bunny has an interesting history. Many years ago in Germany, a children's tale evolved to include the story of an egg-laying bunny that would bring eggs to well-behaved children during springtime. This legend was brought to America by German immigrants in the 1700s and became a beloved symbol of the Easter holiday.
Easter Gift-Giving Ideas
Gift-giving can make special occasions, like holidays or birthdays, even more joyful. Choosing the right gift by thinking about what the person likes and finding something that they will enjoy can be fun and exciting.
Here is a list of some of the most popular Easter gifts:
Chocolate Eggs or Bunnies
Stuffed Animals
Squishy Animals
Puzzles
Building Toys
Colouring Books and Crayons
Books
Spring-themed Stickers
Craft Kits
Plant Kits
Seasonal Candles
Board Games
Sidewalk Chalk
Bubble Makers
Jump Rope
Frisbee
Kite
Water Balloon Launcher
Badminton Set
Pickleball Set
Soccer Ball, Basketball, or Volleyball
Bicycle
Roller Skates
Scooter
Skateboard
Spring Clothing and footwear
Final Thoughts on Easter
In conclusion, Easter is a time of happiness and new beginnings that unites people with joy, hope, and shared traditions. Its unique history and diverse customs bring people together. Whether you are painting eggs, decorating your home, going to church, sharing a meal with family and friends, or eating yummy chocolate treats or hot-cross buns, Easter brings joy and a sense of community to everyone.
Listening Activity
Celebrating Easter:
Traditions, Origins, Activities & Popular Gift Ideas
Instructions:
Press the play buttons below.
Listen to the 3 audio files in order from 1 to 3.
Use the reading from above to follow along with the audio files.
Celebrating Easter? Exploring Traditions, Origins, Activities & Popular Gift Ideas
Reading & Writing Activity
Matching Activity
Popular Easter Activities Matching Exercise
Instructions:
Get a pencil and paper.
Make a list from 1 to 10.
Read the Easter activity descriptions.
Use the popular Easter activities list to decide which Easter activity each description portrays.
Check your answers by clicking on the side arrows next to each activity description.
Popular Easter Activities Matching Exercise
Activity Description 1: In this activity, you make art using paper, glue, and paints to create pictures of bunnies or colourful flowers. Which activity does this description portray?
Easter Activity = Doing Spring-Themed Crafts
Activity Description 2: In this activity, families have a special supper with traditional Easter dishes and sweet treats while spending time together. Which activity does this description portray?
Easter Activity = Eating A Festive Easter Meal
Activity Description 3: In this activity, children search for eggs that are hidden around their house in a treasure hunt. Which activity does this description portray?
Easter Activity = Easter Egg Hunt
Activity Description 4: In this activity, people get to dig small holes and plant seeds so that pretty spring flowers can grow. Which activity does this description portray?
Easter Activity = Planting Spring Flowers
Activity Description 5: In this activity, you arrange small toys and treats into a basket to prepare a gift for someone special. Which activity does this description portray?
Easter Activity = Making Easter Baskets
Activity Description 6: In this activity, many families go to church to pray and sing songs together. Which activity does this description portray?
Easter Activity = Attending Church Services
Activity Description 7: In this activity, you read simple stories about Easter and spring that are easy to understand and interesting. Which activity does this description portray?
Easter Activity = Reading Easter-Themed Books
Activity Description 8: In this activity people watch family-friendly movies that tell a story about Easter or the season of spring. Which activity does this description portray?
Easter Activity = Watching Easter Movies
Activity Description 9: In this activity, you colour and decorate hard-boiled eggs using bright colours and pretty patterns. Which activity does this description portray?
Easter Activity = Decorating Easter Eggs
Activity Description 10: In this activity, you prepare sweet treats like cookies, cakes or hot-cross buns to celebrate Easter. Which activity does this description portray?
Easter Activity = Baking Easter Treats
Test Your Knowledge By Taking Our Quiz
Instructions:
Read the 10 multiple-choice questions from below.
Answer each question.
Click the Submit button when you are done.
Click the View Score button to see how you did on the quiz.
Click below for a reading without the accompanying activities:
Written by: Nicole WT
Copyright © Learn English with NETOL. All rights reserved.
Comments