Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Easter With Colored Eggs, Flowers and Praye
Nonfiction
For ages 6 to 9
National Geographic, 2007 ISBN: 978-1426300202
Many people start getting ready for Easter on Ash Wednesday, six weeks before the special day. What follows is a time called Lent. During Lent Christians read and hear about the last days of Jesus, the son of God. They hear about how powerful people felt threatened by this simple man and how they decided to get rid of him. Because Lent is a sad time and a time of remembrance many people give up certain foods; they eat simply and they go to church often. Some people will have a big celebration before Lent begins to get ready for it. In New Orleans they have a big party called Mardi Gras which is French for "Fat Tuesday." After Mardi Gras is over Lent begins and after Lent is over it is Easter.
The Friday before Easter Sunday is called Good Friday. This is the day when Jesus died on the cross and on this day people go to church to pray and remember. On Easter Eve people in many countries light candles, fireworks, and bonfires. It is time for fun, for getting dressed up and for excitement.
Then on Easter Sunday it is a day for rejoicing for Jesus has risen and been reborn. In Rome thousands of people gather in St. Peter?s Square to hear the Pope lead the service. Children all over the world go for Easter egg hunts and watch Easter parades. All kinds of traditional Easter feasts and treats are eaten and it is a time when families come together to share good times.
This wonderful book with its numerous annotated photographs and its well researched text presents readers with a colorful view of how Easter is celebrated around the world. It gives readers a sense of how ancient this celebration is and how it is much more than just bunnies, chocolate eggs, and pretty hats.
A section at the back of the book entitled “More about Easter” will provide the reader with more facts about this holiday, a recipe, a song, an activity, and much more.
