EASTER TIME (by Stefanie Creer)

In England we have the Catholic tradition which is similar to what happens in Spain apart from the religious parades with statues. We have all the same masses and prayers but the Church of England is slightly different. The different traditions  are probably due to the weather and the fact that traditionally the Catholics are not the national religion.
Children celebrate easter by receiving chocolate Easter eggs. Easter is linked with spring and the egg is an emblem of the new life that Christ brought to us through his resurrection, the emblem of the tomb Christ was put in and the new life in the world in Spring with plants and flowers coming back to life and baby animals being born. Children write Easter poems about new life in spring and Easter egg hunts on Easter day take place. Parents and teachers at school hide chocolate eggs around the house and garden or around the school and give out clues to where they are and children read the clues to find the eggs. What we usually do is put the children into groups of five to hunt together and provide a basket with five small eggs in it. Also children decorate eggs and we hold an Easter egg competition where the winner wins a chocolate egg. An Easter bonnet or hat competition is also another way we celebrate with all children designing a hat that has to have some flowers on it and the children parade around and a winner is chosen who will receive a chocolate egg.