Here Comes Easter!
Easter traditions around the world
by Hannah Taylor
Suitable for Whole School (Pri)
Aims
To explore how Easter is celebrated in different parts of the world.
Preparation and materials
- You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (Here Comes Easter!) and the means to display them.
Assembly
- Like many of our annual holidays, Easter is a time for us to celebrate with friends, family and the people around us. When we think of Easter, it may remind us of the traditions that occur at this time of year, such as giving chocolate eggs to each other, eating hot cross buns, growing daffodils and lilies and taking part in activities such as Easter egg hunts, egg-rolling and bonnet-making.
- Show Slide 1.
The tradition of giving eggs at Easter was introduced as a way of celebrating new life. It is a reminder that Jesus rose from the dead. Originally, these eggs were brightly painted, but today, they are often made of chocolate. - Other countries around the world have their own Easter traditions.
Show Slide 2.
In Bessières, in France, dozens of chefs make an enormous omelette on Easter Monday. They use more than 15,000 eggs and cook it in front of an audience of about 10,000 people! - Show Slide 3.
In Sweden, the children dress up as Easter witches, wearing old clothes and walking round their neighbourhood for treats, similar to our Halloween tradition in the UK. - Show Slide 4.
In Bermuda, people fly home-made kites on Good Friday. Legend has it that the tradition started when a local teacher had trouble explaining Jesus’ resurrection to his Sunday school class. He decided to make a kite to explain it, and the tradition took off! - Show Slide 5.
In Denmark, Sweden, Germany and some other parts of northern Europe, people light large bonfires called Easter fires on Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday. Originally, the custom was introduced as a way of chasing away the winter, but now the fires bring communities together in celebration. - Show Slide 6.
In Antigua, in central America, people cover the streets in colourful carpets during the lead-up to Easter. The carpets are made from coloured sawdust and decorated with flowers, pine needles and plants. - Show Slide 7.
In the UK, Australia and the USA, there are Easter bonnet parades and competitions. The children decorate the bonnets with eggs, flowers, bunnies and chicks and then wear them for the celebrations.
Time for reflection
Encourage the children to think about the Easter traditions that they are familiar with at home, at school or in the community.
Listen to a range of responses.
Remind the children that traditions and celebrations are wonderful memory-makers.
Encourage the children to pause and think of what they have to be thankful for at Easter, such as the people they will spend it with, the food that they will eat and the Easter activities that make it so special.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank you for this day that we call Easter.
Thank you that we can celebrate that Jesus is alive!
Thank you for all the people who make celebrations so special.
Please help us to remember the real meaning of Easter.
Amen.
Song/music
‘Dollop’ by Doug Horley, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1fKFAk8zfI (2.59 minutes long)
‘Here comes the sun’ by the Beatles, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc1ta1UMGeo (3.10 minutes long)
Extension activities
- Encourage the children to research Easter traditions in different parts of the world.
- Encourage the children to come up with their own ideas about how Easter could be celebrated. Maybe the class could carry out one of these ideas.
