That Time of the Year|彩蛋．野兔．复活节

by Owain Mckimm

Along with Christmas, Easter is one of the most important times of the year for Christians.

Most people associate Easter with Christianity in the West. The festival centers around the Christian belief that Jesus Christ was crucified on Good Friday and then rose from the dead on Easter Sunday. The exact date of Easter varies from year to year, although it almost _(1)_ falls between March 22 and April 25.

On Easter, parents often give their children baskets of delicious candy or arrange egg hunts. These hunts involve children searching outdoor areas _(2)_ the make-believe Easter Bunny has hidden eggs. In Greece, eggs are dyed red to symbolize the blood of Christ. In some Eastern European countries, they are painted with intricate and beautiful designs. Easter follows Lent, a 40-day period of _(3)_ eating, prayer, and contemplation. During this time, some Christian groups abstain from eating any animal _(4)_ altogether. For many, Easter is a time for feasting and celebrating because Lent is over.

Many of the things associated with Easter are, _(5)_, linked to pagan traditions that preceded the coming of Christianity. The origins of Easter can actually be found far away in the wintry lands of Northern Europe. The ancient Saxon tribes of Europe celebrated the coming of spring by _(6)_ their fertility goddess, ostre. The rabbit or hare was her symbol because these creatures were known to be _(7)_ fertile. Exchanging eggs was a common ancient tradition that represented the beginning of a new life in the springtime.

1.  (A) usually (B) similarly   (C) seldom  (D) always

2.  (A) why (B) where   (C) how (D) when

3.  (A) disciplined (B) paralyzed   (C) conserved   (D) loosened

4.  (A) productivity    (B) production  (C) produces    (D) products

5.  (A) in case (B) in order    (C) in fact (D) in turn

6.  (A) offending   (B) worshiping  (C) abandoning  (D) convincing

7.  (A) scarcely    (B) instantly   (C) particularly    (D) deliberately

跟圣诞节一样，复活节对基督徒来说是一年当中最重要的时刻之一。

　　大多数人会把复活节跟西方的基督教联想在一起。这个节日围绕的基督教信仰，就是耶稣在『耶稣受难日』（编按：复活节的前 1 个星期五）这天，被钉在十字架上处死，然后在『主复活日』（编按：每年春分月圆之后第 1 个星期日）这天复活。复活节的确切日期每年都不相同，但它几乎总是落在 3 月 22 日到 4 月25 日之间。

　　复活节当天，父母通常会给家中的小孩一篮美味的糖果，或是安排寻蛋活动。活动包括小朋友在户外寻找假装是复活节兔所藏起来的蛋。在希腊，蛋被染成红色，象征基督宝血。一些东欧国家会用繁复精美的设计来彩绘复活节彩蛋。复活节之前是为期 40 天的大斋期，有严格的饮食、祈祷和默想必须遵守。这段期间，一些基督教团体完全禁止食用任何动物产品。对许多人来说，复活节是尽情享受食物和庆祝的时刻，因为大斋期已经结束。

　　事实上，许多复活节的相关事物都跟异教传统有关，这些传统早在人们信奉基督教前就已存在。复活节的起源实际上可见于天寒地冻且遥远的北欧。古代欧洲的撒克逊部落藉由敬奉掌管繁殖的女神 ostre 来庆祝春天降临。兔子或野兔是祂的象征，因为大家都知道牠们的繁殖能力特别强。交换蛋的行为也是常见的古老传统，代表春天新生命的开始。

答案：1. (D)2. (B)3. (A)4. (D)5. (C)

6. (B)7. (C)

在日耳曼人以及斯拉夫人的语言中，『复活节』一词来自于古代的异教女神  ostre。根据传说，ostre 曾经救过 1 只在冬季被冻伤翅膀的小鸟，并将牠变成 1 只兔子。由于牠曾经是 1 只鸟，依旧保留了生蛋的能力，这就是复活节兔的由来。（数据源：维基百科）