{"id":38175,"date":"2018-03-21T17:19:03","date_gmt":"2018-03-21T16:19:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/?p=38175"},"modified":"2021-03-29T11:47:11","modified_gmt":"2021-03-29T09:47:11","slug":"6-unbelievably-british-easter-traditions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/6-unbelievably-british-easter-traditions\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Unbelievably British Easter Traditions"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\">Have you heard of these fascinating British Easter traditions?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\">Great Britain is an <span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>ancient<\/em><\/span> island, full of <span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>superstition<\/em><\/span> and tradition. When Easter comes around visitors to the UK are often surprised by some of the strange events, parades and practices they find.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\">We\u2019ve put together a list of some of the fun things the British do during Easter and some of the wonderfully weird events that take place. Some you may have heard of, but others will certainly be new!<\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"color: #2d346f;\"><strong>1. Easter egg hunts<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-38180 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Chocolate_easter_egg-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"6 Unbelievably British Easter Traditions | Oxford House Barcelona\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Chocolate_easter_egg-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Chocolate_easter_egg.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 15px;\">First of all, an easter egg is a hollow, egg-shaped chocolate treat. Children (and adults!) all over the country look forward to their baskets of Easter eggs, which they receive on Easter Sunday.<br \/>\nChildren are told that the eggs are delivered by the Easter <span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>Bunny<\/em><\/span>.<br \/>\nYes, that\u2019s right &#8211; a rabbit.<br \/>\nThe story of the Easter Bunny comes, originally, from German folk stories. The rabbit lays the eggs and delivers them to the children if they have been good over the Easter period.<br \/>\nEaster Egg hunts often take place on Easter morning, if the weather is good. Adults hide small Easter eggs in the garden, house, or village and the children must follow clues in order to find them. Usually, there are enough Easter eggs for all the children to enjoy.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"color: #2d346f;\"><strong>2. Egg painting<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\">Eggs, as you may by now have guessed, are a big part of Easter in Britain. They symbolise new life and represent the rebirth of Jesus.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\">Before we had chocolate eggs, children would often decorate real eggs to <span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>mark the occasion<\/em><\/span>. A lot of children still enjoy doing this, but the chocolate eggs are far more popular of course!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\">If eggs and bunnies sound like strange symbols, it\u2019s because Christianity probably <span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>appropriated<\/em><\/span> them from older, <span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>paganistic<\/em><\/span> religions, but no-one knows for sure. Rabbits often represent fertility and eggs are said to symbolise new life in spring.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"color: #2d346f;\"><strong>3. Hot Cross Buns<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\">Hot cross buns are another delicious tradition in UK. These raisin filled buns are toasted, <span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>lathered<\/em><\/span> in butter and before being enjoyed with a nice cup of tea.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-38209\" src=\"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pancitos.jpg\" alt=\"6 Unbelievably British Easter Traditions | Oxford House Barcelona\" width=\"870\" height=\"577\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pancitos.jpg 870w, https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pancitos-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pancitos-768x509.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\">The crosses symbolise the Christian belief that Jesus died on the cross for their <span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>sins<\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"color: #2d346f;\"><strong>4. Maypole Dancing<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<div class=\"element_size_\"><iframe title=\"Maypole Dance - The Twister\" width=\"870\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9Bgp9nbm7jM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\">Maypole dancing is another Easter time tradition in Britain &#8211; and in other parts of the world too. Dancers hold on to colourful ribbons which are attached the the top of a large pole and dance in patterns, often to live music played by the village band.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\">The tradition certainly comes from our pre-Christian <span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>heritage<\/em><\/span> but has been a big part of the celebrations at Easter times for centuries.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"color: #2d346f;\"><strong>5. Nutters dance<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<div class=\"element_size_\"><iframe title=\"English Caper: The Nutters Take to the Street\" width=\"870\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uB-DdfPSX0A?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\">Not only is this tradition unique to the UK, but it is unique to a particular village in the UK. The dance troupe is called the Britannia Coco-nut Dancers, or the \u201cNutters\u201d for short. These dancers perform their show during Easter in a village called Bacup in Lancaster, England.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\">They dance for 11 km through the village and drink a pint of beer in every pub they stop at along the way. The eight dancers dress very strangely, with clogs (wooden shoes), a red and white skirt, black trousers and shirts. They also paint their faces black, which some people don\u2019t like very much, as they say it is racist. However, the dancers say it\u2019s simply a type of mask and is not intended to represent a race.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"color: #2d346f;\"><strong>6. Morris Dancing<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<div class=\"element_size_\"><iframe title=\"Morris Dancers at Chipping Campden May 2012\" width=\"769\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WlL-Ip2AenY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\">If you see a man dressed in white, with bells on his trousers and a stick or <span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>handkerchief<\/em><\/span> in his hand, don\u2019t be scared. He\u2019s a Morris Dancer.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\">Morris Dancing often takes place during Easter parades or village fairs. It\u2019s a type of English folk dancing, and quite a strange thing to watch. The dance troupes are traditionally all-male, but there are now also female groups too. They practice their craft at other times of year too, but their first shows usually take place in spring, when the weather is warming up a bit.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 20px;\"><span style=\"color: #2d346f;\"><em>Which of these Easter traditions surprised you the most? Do you do any of the same things in your country? What traditions do you think would surprise visitors to your town the most?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"devider element_size_>\"><div style=\"margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:20px; \" class=\"divider3\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div>\n<h1><strong>Glossary for Language Learners<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\">Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn\u2019t know.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>Ancient (n):<\/em><\/span> very old.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>Superstition (n):<\/em><\/span> a belief in something that has no basis in fact.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>Bunny (n):<\/em><\/span> another, cute name for a rabbit.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>Mark the occasion (vp):<\/em><\/span> to do something symbolic to celebrate a special moment.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>Appropriate (v):<\/em><\/span> to take something that isn\u2019t your and use it for a new purpose.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>Paganistic (adj):<\/em><\/span> describing an ancient, pre-Christian religion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>Lathered (adj):<\/em><\/span> covered in something.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>Sins (n):<\/em><\/span> bad things that you have done in your life.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>Heritage (n):<\/em><\/span> a country\u2019s traditions, practices and history.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>Handkerchief (n):<\/em><\/span> a piece of cloth you carry to clean yourself.<\/p>\n<div class=\"devider element_size_>\"><div style=\"margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:20px; \" class=\"divider1\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\"><strong>Key<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\">n = noun<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\">vp = verb phrase<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\">v = verb<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\">adj = adjective<\/p>\n<div class=\"devider element_size_>\"><div style=\"margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:20px; \" class=\"divider1\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 15px;\">Chocolate Egg Photo: Myrabella \/ Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0<\/p>\n<div class=\"devider element_size_>\"><div style=\"margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:20px; \" class=\"divider1\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"messagebox alert alert-info\" style=\"align:left; background:#ffffff; color:#2D346F; border:1px solid #ffffff\"><h4>Study English at Oxford House Barcelona<\/h4><i class=\"icon-info-sign\"><\/i>Interested in taking an English course at Oxford House Barcelona? Check all the different <a href=\"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/english-courses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">English classes<\/a> we can offer you or <a href=\"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">contact us<\/a> for more information.<\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you heard of these fascinating British Easter traditions? Great Britain is an ancient island, full of superstition and tradition. When Easter comes around visitors to the UK are often surprised by some of the strange events, parades and practices they find. We\u2019ve put together a list of some of the fun things the British [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":38208,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_joinchat":[]},"categories":[268],"tags":[2795,2794,195],"yst_prominent_words":[1332,1340,2802,2805,2797,2807,2799,1044,1253,1923,2657,2796,2803,2806,2800,2804,2801,1037,2111,2798],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38175"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38175"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38175\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46788,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38175\/revisions\/46788"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38208"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38175"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38175"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38175"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=38175"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}