A History of Easter and its Traditions
By History.com, adapted by Newsela staff on 04.14.17
Word Count 443
Level 600L
Michael Blackwell (center) as Peter Rabbit and (from left) Emilia Naberezny, Marjory Newman, Rosie Naberezny and Jodie Trapani as the
City Chicks pose for photographers in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral while strolling on New York's Fifth Avenue during the annual Easter
Parade. Photo: AP Photo: AP
Easter is the most important holiday for Christians. Christians believe Jesus Christ rose from the
dead on Easter Sunday. The holiday celebrates that day.
Easter is on a different day every year. It takes place between March 22 and April 25. The day
changes for a few reasons. It must be after the first day of spring. Then there is the first full moon
of springtime. Easter must be on the first Sunday after that first full moon.
Easter is more than one day
But before Easter is Lent. It lasts for 40 days. Lent is a time for thinking about how to be a better
person and to be sorry for any bad things you might have done. Sometimes people stop eating
their favorite food for the 40 days.
This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.
The week before Easter is called Holy Week. Good Friday is the day Jesus was killed. Holy
Saturday remembers the time between Jesus' death and when he rose from the dead. Easter is on
Sunday.
Easter is the most important holiday for Christians. It is also a time for traditions. Children
decorate eggs. They also eat candy and chocolate Easter bunnies.
Easter bunny
The story of the Easter bunny first came from Europe. It was brought to America more than 200
years ago. People moving here from Germany told a story of a rabbit that laid eggs. Their children
made nests for the rabbit to lay its colored eggs.
The story of the Easter bunny spread across the United States. People then began to put chocolate
and gifts in Easter baskets.
Easter eggs
The egg means new life to many people. Eggs have been used for a long time to welcome spring.
People have been decorating eggs for Easter for hundreds of years. This could be because long ago,
people were not allowed to eat eggs during Lent. So they would paint eggs. Then they would eat
them on Easter as a celebration.
Easter candy
Chocolate eggs are popular treats for Easter. Many people buy jelly beans. But the most popular
Easter candy is the marshmallow Peep. It is a sugary treat shaped like a chick. Peeps were first
sold in the 1950s.
Easter Parade
The Easter Parade has been happening in New York City for a long time. Rich people in the 1800s
went to church on Easter. Then they would go for walks in the city. They would show off their new
spring clothes and hats. Over many years, it turned into a parade.
The Easter Parade still happens today. People wear colorful and crazy hats. Other cities across the
United States also have Easter parades.
This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.
Quiz
1 Which sentence from the section "Easter Parade" BEST explains what people now do for the Easter Parade?
(A) The Easter Parade has been happening in New York City for a long time.
(B) Rich people in the 1800s went to church on Easter.
(C) Then they would go for walks in the city.
(D) People wear colorful and crazy hats.
2 Which section of the article gives information about when Easter is celebrated?
(A) Introduction [paragraphs 1-2]
(B) "Easter bunny"
(C) "Easter eggs"
(D) "Easter candy"
3 What is the purpose of the section "Easter bunny"?
(A) to describe what the Easter bunny looks like
(B) to describe how German rabbits can lay real eggs
(C) to explain how a rabbit has become part of Easter
(D) to explain why coloring eggs is an Easter tradition
4 Which paragraph in the section "Easter is more than one day" describes the two days right before Easter?
(A) But before Easter is Lent. It lasts for 40 days. Lent is a time for thinking about how to be a better person
and to be sorry for any bad things you might have done. Sometimes people stop eating their favorite
food for the 40 days.
(B) The Easter Parade has been happening in New York City for a long time. Rich people in the 1800s went
to church on Easter. Then they would go for walks in the city. They would show off their new spring
clothes and hats. Over many years, it turned into a parade.
(C) The week before Easter is called Holy Week. Good Friday is the day Jesus was killed. Holy Saturday
remembers the time between Jesus' death and when he rose from the dead. Easter is on Sunday.
(D) Easter is on a different day every year. It takes place between March 22 and April 25. The day changes
for a few reasons. It must be after the first day of spring. Then there is the first full moon of springtime.
Easter must be on the first Sunday after that first full moon.
(E) Other
This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.
Answer Key
1 Which sentence from the section "Easter Parade" BEST explains what people now do for the Easter Parade?
(A) The Easter Parade has been happening in New York City for a long time.
(B) Rich people in the 1800s went to church on Easter.
(C) Then they would go for walks in the city.
(D) People wear colorful and crazy hats.
2 Which section of the article gives information about when Easter is celebrated?
(A) Introduction [paragraphs 1-2]
(B) "Easter bunny"
(C) "Easter eggs"
(D) "Easter candy"
3 What is the purpose of the section "Easter bunny"?
(A) to describe what the Easter bunny looks like
(B) to describe how German rabbits can lay real eggs
(C) to explain how a rabbit has become part of Easter
(D) to explain why coloring eggs is an Easter tradition
4 Which paragraph in the section "Easter is more than one day" describes the two days right before Easter?
(A) But before Easter is Lent. It lasts for 40 days. Lent is a time for thinking about how to be a better person
and to be sorry for any bad things you might have done. Sometimes people stop eating their favorite
food for the 40 days.
(B) The Easter Parade has been happening in New York City for a long time. Rich people in the 1800s went
to church on Easter. Then they would go for walks in the city. They would show off their new spring
clothes and hats. Over many years, it turned into a parade.
(C) The week before Easter is called Holy Week. Good Friday is the day Jesus was killed. Holy
Saturday remembers the time between Jesus' death and when he rose from the dead. Easter is
on Sunday.
(D) Easter is on a different day every year. It takes place between March 22 and April 25. The day changes
for a few reasons. It must be after the first day of spring. Then there is the first full moon of springtime.
Easter must be on the first Sunday after that first full moon.
(E) Other
This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.
