Mardi Gras is a Christian holiday and popular cultural phenomenon that dates back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rites. Also known as Carnival, it’s celebrated in many countries around the world—mainly those with large Roman Catholic populations—on the day before the religious season of Lent begins. Brazil, Venice and New Orleans play host to some of the holiday’s most famous public festivities, drawing thousands of tourists and revelers every year.
What Is Mardi Gras?
Mardi Gras is a tradition that dates back thousands of years to pagan celebrations of spring and fertility, including the Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia. When Christianity arrived in Rome, religious leaders decided to incorporate these popular local traditions into the new faith, an easier task than abolishing them altogether. As a result, the excess of the Mardi Gras season became a prelude to Lent, the 40 days of fasting between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. Along with Christianity, Mardi Gras spread from Rome to other European countries, including France, Germany, Spain and England.
Watch the movie and complete the sentences with the missing information.
1. For many people of the Christian faith, Easter is
_________________ holiday of the year.
2. It's the culmination of the religious season of _________________.
3. Easter is also a _________________ holiday.
4. Early Christians adapted Easter from a _________________ festival.
5. The goddess consorted with a _________________.
6. Rabbits are an ancient symbol of _________________ and new life.
7. It was probably brought to America by _________________
8. In different parts of Germany kids wait for the Easter _________________, _________________, rooster or stork.
9. Eggs also symbolize _________________ and _________________.
10. For centuries the Christian Church banned _________________ along with other _________________ during lent.
11. _________________ eggs is one of the oldest Easter costumes.
12. For most Americans, however, Easter is about the _________________ stuff, _________________.
13. US candy makers produce _________________ chocolate bunnies and _________________ jelly beans for Easter each year.
14. Today, more candy is _________________ for Easter than any other holiday, except for _________________.
15. Easter ranks among the most _________________ celebrated holidays.
16. This spring, sweeten up your celebration with a little _________________.
For many people of the Christian faith Easter is the most important holiday of the year. It is the culmination of the religion season of lent. And the day on which Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. In addition to its religious importance Easter is also a popular secular holiday. Thanks to its association with the Easter Bunny, colorful decorated eggs and of course all that candy.
The first recorded celebration of Easter was back on the 2nd century. But it probably goes back even further than that. According to one popular theory early Christians adopted Easter from a pagan festival celebrating Eostre (the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility). The Goddess consorted with a hare which as the theory goes was the original inspiration for today’s Easter Bunny. But it appears at little evidence exist to support this story. So where did the Easter Bunny actually come from? Rabbits are an ancient symbol of fertility and new life. Two ideas are strongly associated with spring and with Easter. The connection between rabbits and Easter aroused in Europe in the 17th century and was probably brought to America a century later by German emigrants. But we bet you didn’t know that the Easter Bunny isn’t the only animal associated with the holiday. In Switzerland a cuckoo delivers the Easter Eggs. While in different parts of Germany kids wait for the Easter Fox, Chick, Rooster or Stork.
The Eggs also symbolize the fertility and renewal. They may’ve become popular on Easter for some practical reason. For centuries the Christian church banned eggs along with other food during lent. And it became a special treat to eat them again on Easter. Decorating eggs is one of the oldest Easter customs. One of history’s most lavish Easter traditions developed in late 19th century in Russia. When royalty and other members of high society began giving each other jewel crossed eggs as Easter gifts. The man behind this created valuable eggs as jewel goldsmith Mr. Peter Carl Fabergé. Who was comissioned by Czar Alexander 3rd to create jewel Easter eggs for his wife.
For most Americans however Easter is about the sweet stuff. Candy! The US candy makers produce about 90 million chocolate Bunnys and 16 billion jelly beans for Easter each year. Jelly Beans were invented in the 17th century, but they only became an Easter Candy in 1930s. After merchants pointed at how much they look like eggs. Today more candies are sold for Easter than on any other holiday (except for Halloween). And more of 88% of American parents prepare Easter Baskets for their kids. From its powerful religious significants to its popular customs Easter ranks among one of the most widely celebrated holidays. This spring sweeten up your celebrations with a little history.
2. It's the culmination of the religious season of _________________.
3. Easter is also a _________________ holiday.
4. Early Christians adapted Easter from a _________________ festival.
5. The goddess consorted with a _________________.
6. Rabbits are an ancient symbol of _________________ and new life.
7. It was probably brought to America by _________________
8. In different parts of Germany kids wait for the Easter _________________, _________________, rooster or stork.
9. Eggs also symbolize _________________ and _________________.
10. For centuries the Christian Church banned _________________ along with other _________________ during lent.
11. _________________ eggs is one of the oldest Easter costumes.
12. For most Americans, however, Easter is about the _________________ stuff, _________________.
13. US candy makers produce _________________ chocolate bunnies and _________________ jelly beans for Easter each year.
14. Today, more candy is _________________ for Easter than any other holiday, except for _________________.
15. Easter ranks among the most _________________ celebrated holidays.
16. This spring, sweeten up your celebration with a little _________________.
For many people of the Christian faith Easter is the most important holiday of the year. It is the culmination of the religion season of lent. And the day on which Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. In addition to its religious importance Easter is also a popular secular holiday. Thanks to its association with the Easter Bunny, colorful decorated eggs and of course all that candy.
The first recorded celebration of Easter was back on the 2nd century. But it probably goes back even further than that. According to one popular theory early Christians adopted Easter from a pagan festival celebrating Eostre (the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility). The Goddess consorted with a hare which as the theory goes was the original inspiration for today’s Easter Bunny. But it appears at little evidence exist to support this story. So where did the Easter Bunny actually come from? Rabbits are an ancient symbol of fertility and new life. Two ideas are strongly associated with spring and with Easter. The connection between rabbits and Easter aroused in Europe in the 17th century and was probably brought to America a century later by German emigrants. But we bet you didn’t know that the Easter Bunny isn’t the only animal associated with the holiday. In Switzerland a cuckoo delivers the Easter Eggs. While in different parts of Germany kids wait for the Easter Fox, Chick, Rooster or Stork.
The Eggs also symbolize the fertility and renewal. They may’ve become popular on Easter for some practical reason. For centuries the Christian church banned eggs along with other food during lent. And it became a special treat to eat them again on Easter. Decorating eggs is one of the oldest Easter customs. One of history’s most lavish Easter traditions developed in late 19th century in Russia. When royalty and other members of high society began giving each other jewel crossed eggs as Easter gifts. The man behind this created valuable eggs as jewel goldsmith Mr. Peter Carl Fabergé. Who was comissioned by Czar Alexander 3rd to create jewel Easter eggs for his wife.
For most Americans however Easter is about the sweet stuff. Candy! The US candy makers produce about 90 million chocolate Bunnys and 16 billion jelly beans for Easter each year. Jelly Beans were invented in the 17th century, but they only became an Easter Candy in 1930s. After merchants pointed at how much they look like eggs. Today more candies are sold for Easter than on any other holiday (except for Halloween). And more of 88% of American parents prepare Easter Baskets for their kids. From its powerful religious significants to its popular customs Easter ranks among one of the most widely celebrated holidays. This spring sweeten up your celebrations with a little history.
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