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Easter

Date: Apr 10 2009

Themes: Holidays

Grammar: Gerunds vs. Infinitives

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Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

For Christians, Easter is one of the most important holidays of the year. But for non-Christian and secular Americans, it’s kind of a weird one. This Sunday, people all over the US are going to hunt for colored eggs in their yards that were left there by a rabbit. You read that correctly.

People celebrate Easter with an Easter egg hunt. They dye eggs and then hide them so that other people can try to find them. Children like Easter because they usually get a basket full of chocolate eggs, which a giant bunny supposedly delivers to them. For college students, Easter means spring break, a week of no school and lots of partying. Now, just don’t ask what all this has to do with Jesus Christ and the resurrection!

Devan loves Easter, but Mason isn’t a fan. Listen to them discuss this unique holiday.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Mason

Devan

Mason: So Easter is coming up, which is, you know, lame.

Devan: Lame, what do you mean lame?

Mason: I have a very conflicting relationship with Easter because it falls on my birthday one every three years.

Devan: Oh, when’s your birthday?

Mason: April 16th. So you know, I have these bad memories of none of my friends being able to come to my party because they had to go do lame Easter things.

Devan: Like Easter egg hunts or dyeing Easter eggs?

Mason: Yeah, all that crap. Totally lame.

Devan: Yeah, I don’t know. I think Easter’s great. I love getting an Easter basket, and you always have your chocolate Easter bunny in your basket, and I love doing the Easter egg hunt. One year I found the golden egg and I won a prize.

Mason: See this is another thing, I mean, as a bunny-owner in my older years, bunnies don’t lay eggs. Just another inaccuracy.

Devan: Do you know how they celebrate it in France? It’s a giant bell that drops off the baskets.

Mason: A bell?

Devan: Like a Liberty Bell. So if you think a rabbit laying eggs is weird, try having a bell.

Grammar Point

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Discussion

This Sunday is Easter, and Mason isn’t looking forward to it. His birthday sometimes gets ignored because it falls on the same day as Easter, which is always on a Sunday in the spring.

Mason also thinks that the way we celebrate Easter is weird. Unlike Devan, he doesn’t enjoy dyeing Easter eggs or going on Easter egg hunts. He doesn’t understand the connection between bunnies and eggs. But as Devan points out, other countries have their own interesting ways of celebrating this holiday.

One reason bunnies and eggs are a part of Easter celebrations is that the holiday is associated with spring. Do you have a spring holiday or festival in your country? How do you celebrate it?

Comments

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Xfin

Italy

it sounds funny …

MmLLoO

Germany

hiiii everybody^{^}

this lesson is interesting but although i was born in germany i still have no idea what it has to do with dyeing and hunting eggs

well happy easter btw^

getchar

Algeria

hi there !

I think the way that christians celebrate Easter..is a little weird..it doesn't have to do with the real thing…..don't you think…may be it would be better if they celebrated it just the way it is …as it told in the bible…just celebrate it because of the " rising from the dead"...!!!! take it easy friends !!

小土西

China

hey everybody i am greenhand.there is no festival like Easter in my country.i have not heard of that easter eggs hunting.it sounds so cool .

i hope that i can have the eggs a taste

gul0658

Turkey

hı,
I think ıt is only a celebration of spring so everyone should think it is funny. every religion has own celebration ,too.only get enjoy.

almajroha

Oman

hey

well in islam we don't celeberate Ester

i didn't know about it before just now

so i just can say happy ester for all christian

songlin043@gmail.com

China

i naver enjoy Easter, and don't know well about it, from this lesson i got some knowlege and information about Easter. it is new for me, how wonderful. i love Easter, how interesting and funny . i want to enjoy hunting for the colored eggs so incredible for me eastern girl. the tradition is different between eastern and western country.

songlin043@gmail.com

China

hesam`

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

is a good one of lesson.
please write about Iran and Persian Gulf.
thanks a lot

shako-deka

Georgia

HALLO!!!I am from georgia. Easter is the most important religious festival in Georgia. The oldest tradition is to dye eggs in red and bake easter bread "paska". On Easter we go to the semetary of our relatives and take red eggs and Easter bread. We roll the eggs on the grove and light the candle.

Free Fish

China

Even though I am not in US,but I think the Easter is excited,I also want to enjoy the special day,but I can’t.If I have chance,I want to celebrate with my friends,because I like the chocolate eggs,I like it very much.

rikkizhao

China

Easter is a really fun holiday! I wish to get an dye egg like a child.

rabbitcyg

China

My foreign teacher had told us Easter, I knew a little. In my mind,it seems like a children's holiday,weird clothes,make-up,giftes,etc.

hassanzadeh

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I didnt know about Ester untill my hausbent`s brother`wife brought chocholate eggs hunt for my kids from kanada and explain to us about Ester

I get more information it from your sites

thanks alot

Jaisy

Taiwan

few years ago ,i went to england for study.

and we celebrate easter aswell !! i think its fun .

we paint eggs in so much color . and my daddy hide it,than me and my sis hants . and between easter , the mall sells egg cups ~ so cute

i miss london now

Jaisy

Taiwan

few years ago ,i went to england for study.

and we celebrate easter aswell !! i think its fun .

we paint eggs in so much color . and my daddy hide it,than me and my sis hants . and between easter , the mall sells egg cups ~ so cute

i miss london now

bluecat

Japan

In Japan, there is no custom like 'Easter'.But in spring, we have 'hana-mi' .It is kind of party under cherry blossom, drinking and eating.Cherry blossom is called 'sakura' in Japan.You can see sakura very short term only seven day.

metal21

Nicaragua

Here in Nicaragua people celebrate easter in a different way, all is related to religious activities such as processions, going to church, and all that jazz. On the other hand, people take advantage that they have at least from Thursday to Saturday without going to work, so we all are used to go to the beach and enjoy along with the family.

Some people are used to go to church on Thursday and Friday and go to the beach on Saturday and Sunday.