Materials
for Guyana: small kite or equipment to make one
for Finland: small pots and rye grass or other grass seed
for Russia: hand bells or bell music
fro Hungary: small plastic water bottle for each child
for Latvia: swings
for France: ball
Instructions
* Easter is usually celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon
following the vernal equinox (first day of Spring). This can fall anywhere
between March 22nd and April 25th.
1. Try out as many international Easter customs as possible with the
children to introduce them to the variety of traditions celebrating the
same festival.
2. Following are a few ideas from around the world.
* Make kites from Guyana: Kite-flying is a very popular Easter activity
in Guyana. People make them beforehand, then fly them on Easter
Sunday and Monday. Help children make simple ones from tissue
paper, cane, and string, or ask parents to send one in from home. Fly
the kites together.
Grow Rye Grass as
they do in Finland:
Well before Easter,
have children plant
rye grass seeds in
little pots. Green
grass is a sure sign of
spring, even if it only
grows on the
windowsill.
Encourage the
children to decorate
a pot to look like a
face. When the grass grows, it will look like hair growing.
* Hear bells from Russia: At Easter in Russia, anyone is allowed in
church belfries to ring the bells, and many people take advantage of
the opportunity! Teach the children a very simple tune to play on
handbells. Alternately play recordings of beautiful bells.
* Do sprinkling from Hungary: Hungarian sprinkling can take the
form of anything from a dash of cologne to a bucket of cold water! A
gentler outdoor alternative for a warm day would be to use small
plastic water bottles with a few holes punched in the lid. Have the
children give each other a little sprinkle.
* Swing from Latvia: For hundreds of years, children used to "Swing
into Spring" by sitting on swings facing each other, while their friends
pushed them as high as possible. Tell the children about this, but try
swinging in a much safer way.
* Play handball from France: In France, playing handball was one of
the earliest Easter amusements. The ball represents the sun, which is
believed to take three leaps in rising on Easter morning. Incorporate
this idea to make up simple ball games with the children.
More to do Group or Circle Time: Use a world map to show children where activities
come from. Talk about other countries in which the activities are also
popular (such as kite flying in China).
