The boy and hot cross buns 　少年とホットクロスバン

Once, long ago in England, a monk saw poor families living together in rag tents on the streets of his town. Easter was two days away, and the monk thought to himself, "On the day of the rebirth of our Savior, families should not go hungry."

This monk had once been a baker, so he now baked a great many spiced buns with raisins inside. He decorated the shiny brown tops of the buns with a cross, and while they were still piping hot, he went out among the families and gave them the delicious buns.

A young boy named Giles would not take even one.

"Bake me a basketful of buns that I can sell," he said. "I do not want charity."

The monk looked at the boy's ragged cｌothes and dirty face, and though he felt sorry for the lad, he saw that Giles had pride, so he baked the child a basket of the buns.

That Easter morning, Giles took his basket from house to house, singing out in a voice that carried over the clear air:

"Hot Cross Buns. Hot Cross Buns.
One a penny, two a penny, Hot Cross Buns.
If you have no daughters, give them to your sons.
Hot Cross Buns. Hot Cross Buns."

Before Mass that morning, Giles had sold all the buns. He put the money he had earned in the poor box at church.

To this day, children all over the world chant the words of his song.

修道士

ぼろの

復活

救世主

十字架

ほっかほかの

ほどこし

＝boy

ミサ

稼ぐ

詠う

Party Game:Egg Rolling contest

This is an indoor alternative to Egg Rolling contest. The contest can be held right there in the room where the party is held.

All you need is an electronic watch that shows seconds. A medium sized table and some white eggs. Nice, if you have some small sized Easter stickers to be stuck on each of the eggs. And of course, don't forget to keep a trash bucket ready. It should come handy in case there is a mess with an egg.

Each and every one is welcome to participate. The contestant should come one by one. Take up one of the Easter marked egg, and set it spinning on the table. But before getting started one should read the watch. When the spinning comes to a dead stop, mark the time. Now note down the time taken for the whole spinning.

While one should read on the seconds, others should encourage the spinner with loud cheers and applause. Finally reward the one whose spinning lasts the longest. And what else than a well decorated candy-egg serve the purpose?

Great going for a boisterous Easter party!