Easter


 * Jollie Pâques!!!! (Happy Easter) **

Easter traditions are a lot like American Traditions! They still have egg hunts, and candy. They, being primarly cathloic, are more religious with Easter. It is celebrated in churches. On the Thursday before Good Friday all the church bells stop ringing to honor Christ. Then they start to ring Sunday, to honor him raising.

It is said that the bell's chimes have flown to Rome to see the Pope. When the bells ring again everybody embraces in celebration.



On Easter morning, the children awake to colorful eggs (les oeufs de Pâques) that are hidden are around. The chimes who were in Rome are the ones who hide them around. Sadly, France has a longer weekend than American kids. They center their second spring vacation around Easter.

They are really big into their food! In America we eat chocolate bunnies, but in France they eat chocolate fish. They do that as a continuation of Poisson d'Avril. They also munch on Cloche Volant, or Chocolate Flying Bells. Because bells play important role during the Easter tradiiton candy shops sell flying bells. Don't worry, the still have chocolate bunnies and eggs.



**Easter games!** One game is to get raw eggs and roll them gently down a slope. The surviving egg is the winner, or the victory egg. It symbloizes the stone being rolled away from Jesus' tomb.

Another is to toss raw eggs in the air. The first child to drop, or break their egg is the loser. And they must pay a penalty, give up a piece of candy to their siblings or others. It is similar to the egg and spoon game in America!

Hmm.... if you play, you might want to use a hard boiled egg instead!

More information for the teacher! []



Translations:

Bunny- Lapin Eggs- Ouefs Chicken- Poulet Easter- Pâques Chocolate- chocolat Bells- cloches