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1、UnitUnit 2 2 I I thinkthink thatthat mooncakesmooncakes areare deliciousdeliciousEasterEaster TraditionsTraditions Its Easter in the UK and the shops are full of Easter eggs, hot-cross buns(十字小面包) and Easter bunnies. Although Easter is widely seen as a Christian festival which celebrates the resurre
2、ction (复活) of Jesus, its origins pre-date Christianity and many of its symbols come from the earliest civilizations. Our modern festivals roots lie in ancient seasonal rituals which marked the transition from the “death“ of winter to the new life and rebirth of spring. These days we give chocolate e
3、ggs as gifts at Easter but eggs have been symbols of fertility for thousands of years. The ancient Persians(波斯人) gave each other painted eggs for the festival of Nowrooz (纳吾肉孜节), a celebration held at the spring equinox(春分) which marked the start of Persian New Year. The tradition continues to this
4、day. Centuries ago the early Saxon people marked buns with a cross to honour their goddess Eostre(厄俄斯特), whose name some people believe to be the origin of the word Easter. It is believed that early Christians incorporated(包含) such pagan(异教徒的) festivals into their religion. Some experts say the East
5、er bunny was originally a hare(野兔) as this animal repre sented fertility and growth in pagan mythology due to its capacity for reproduction(繁殖). Moreover, in some ancient cultures the hare was also a symbol of the moon, which is significant as the date of Easter changes each year depending on the lu
6、nar cycle. The Easter bunny has become an important symbol of Easter all over the world. But nowadays not everybody treats such symbols with respect. Pranksters(恶作剧者) in the Austrian town of Villach have stolen a giant Easter Bunny from the town square. Local police say it should not be too difficult to spot(认出) as it is two metres tall and weighs 60kg.
