Easter: The Day of New Life and Hope

Easter: The Day of New Life and Hope

复活节：新生和希望的节日

本篇适合：朗读，挑战

小朋友们，四月到了，你们感受到了春天的气息吗？在西方国家，这段时间可是有一个非常盛大的节日哦！对于信奉基督教的人来说，这个节日甚至比圣诞节还重要。它就是庆祝耶稣基督被钉死在十字架之后复活的节日——复活节。这个节日除了有宗教意义，还象征着新生与希望。活泼可爱的复活节兔，圆滚滚的漂亮彩蛋，五颜六色的美味糖果——复活节对孩子们来说就是一个快乐的节日，快一起来了解一下吧！

by Sea

Easter is the holiest day of the year for many people of the Christian faith. It celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection.

The story of Jesus’ resurrection

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. He got angry because people didn’t use the temple properly. Jesus talked to the people. Some people did not like him and wanted him killed.

Jesus had a supper with his friends. He knew he was going to die. Jesus and his friends drank wine and ate bread. Then they went to a garden to pray. Judas kissed Jesus on the cheek. This was not a good thing.

Judas helped the guards arrest Jesus. Jesus was taken away. Jesus was brought to see an important man called Pilate. Some people told Pilate that Jesus was evil and he should die. Jesus was hung on a cross and died.

Some friends put his body in a cave. When they went to see his body two days later, it had gone! Then an angel told them all was well and Jesus was alive. Suddenly, they saw Jesus and he talked to them. He told them to tell people about what had happened and he would be back one day. After that he went up to heaven.

holy ['həʊlɪ] adj. 神圣的（最高级：holiest）

Christian ['krɪstʃən] adj. 基督教的，信奉基督教的

faith [feɪθ] n. 宗教信仰

celebrate ['selɪbreɪt] v. 庆祝（第三人称单数：celebrates）

Jesus Christ ['dʒiːzəs kraɪst] 耶稣基督（基督教各派信奉的救世主）

resurrection [,rezə'rekʃn] n. 复活

Jerusalem [dʒə'ruːsələm] n. 宗教圣地耶路撒冷

temple ['templ] n. 庙；神殿

properly ['prɒpəlɪ] adv. 恰当地，正确地

pray [preɪ] v. 祈祷

cheek [tʃiːk] n. 脸颊

guard [gaːd] n. 护卫队（复数：guards）

arrest [ə'rest] v. 逮捕

evil ['iːvl] adj. 罪恶的

hang [hæŋ] v. 悬挂（过去分词：hung）

cross [krɒs] n. 十字架

cave [keɪv] n. 洞穴

alive [ə'laɪv] adj. 活着的

suddenly ['sʌdənlɪ] adv. 意外地，忽然地

heaven ['hevn] n. 天堂

Customs of the Easter Day

The Easter Bunny brings the new life to the world. A colourful egg is the symbol of new life. Parents hide those eggs and let children find them. Chocolates and candies are also important parts of this holiday.

中文大意请见第44页。

bunny ['bʌnɪ] n. 兔子

symbol ['sɪmbl] n. 象征，标志

hide [haɪd] v. 隐藏

复活节庆祝传统

公元325年尼西亚宗教会议规定，每年过了春分月圆后的第一个星期天为复活节。因此每年复活节的日期是不一样的，今年人们在4月16日庆祝复活节。

在多数西方国家里，复活节一般要举行盛大的游行。节日游行洋溢着喜庆的气氛，具有浓厚的民间特色和地方特色。复活节这一天，到处都可以见到漂亮的百合花，百合花象征着神圣和纯洁，代表着耶稣基督的圣洁。人们还会换上新衣，打扫屋舍，迎接新生活。

装饰彩蛋是最古老的复活节传统之一，代表着人们的美好心愿。据说复活节兔子会将彩蛋藏在室内或是草地里，让孩子们去寻找。还有滚彩蛋比赛：人们把彩蛋放在地上或土坡上滚，彩蛋最后一个破的人为获胜者，获胜者可以得到所有参赛者的彩蛋。