ABA Journal Impara l'inglese in modo naturale
Pasqua, si sa, insieme al Natale, è una delle feste religiose più importanti dell’anno per gli italiani, ma non solo. Vi siete mai chiesti come si celebra questa festa al di fuori del mondo cattolico, per esempio nei paesi anglosassoni come Gran Bretagna e Stati Uniti?
Oggi ti sveliamo le tradizioni che, a differenza di Halloween, non abbiamo ancora adottato in Italia. Leggerai il testo in inglese, ma niente paura, alla fine ti abbiamo tradotto i vocaboli più difficili / che non conosci.
Iniziamo!
The bunny that gives Easter its name
The English term Easter comes from the pagan goddess Eostre, worshipped by the Saxons as a protector of fertility and new life. The goddess Eostre was represented by a hare, or bunny, hence how we got the famous Easter bunnies in English. By around the 8th century, the Anglo-Saxons had already adopted this name for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection.
Easter Eggs’ Symbolism
Why do we give Easter eggs? According to pagan tradition, eggs symbolize the start of a new life, a new life that is reborn in spring and celebrated with the festival of the equinox. Giving eggs at Easter is a centuries-old custom. It was originally pagan but was later adopted by monotheistic religions. In many cultures, eggs were painted and decorated. From this tradition come works of art like the porcelain Fabergé eggs, adorned and embedded with jewels as commissioned by the Russian tsars.
Easter Egg Hunt
In Easter Sunday in Anglo-Saxon countries like the UK or USA, it’s customary to have an Easter Egg Hunt with children looking for hidden Easter eggs. Families hide chocolate, painted or plastic eggs filled with treats in their garden or around the house. The children, who think the eggs come from the Easter Bunny, try to find them. Smaller children hide a basket in the garden for the Easter Bunny to leave eggs or other gifts in.
Easter Egg Roll
Traditionally celebrated on Easter Monday, the “Easter Egg Roll” (rolling or pushing an egg) is a very popular old game in Anglo-Saxon countries like the UK. After the Easter Monday service, children run down a hill with decorated eggs, trying to be the first ones to get to the bottom without losing their egg. The winners get a chocolate prize.
Hot Cross Buns
Although they can be found throughout the year in Anglo-Saxon countries, Hot Cross Buns are slightly sweet spiced buns traditionally baked on Good Friday.
There are many superstitions about Hot Cross Buns. The most popular one is that eating a hot cross bun with friends on Good Friday means that the friendship will last through the next year.
Vocabolario
A goddess – dea, divinità.
To worship – adorare, venerare, onorare.
A hare – lepre.
Equinox – equinozio.
To embed – incastrare, inserire.
Customary – solito, abituale, consueto.
A treat – sorpresa; premio.
To roll – (far) rotolare.
A service – funzione religiosa.
Bottom – fondo.
Slightly – leggermente, lievemente.
To bake – cuocere al forno.
Approfitta delle vacanze di Pasqua per riprendere in mano l’inglese! Se senti il bisogno di migliorare il tuo inglese puoi provare con il corso di ABA English. Ti offriamo 144 videolezioni, cortometraggi ed esercizi online orali e scritti.
