Easter is a religious holiday celebrated worldwide within the Christian faith that commemorates the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the payment for all sins. This holiday is on the first Sunday after that occurs on or after the spring equinox, usually in April.
What Is Easter?
In Christianity, Easter is the last day of the ‘Holy Week’, which includes Palm Sunday (celebrating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem), Holy Thursday (celebrating the Last Supper), and Good Friday (commemorating the crucifixion). In Pagan influences, the word “Easter” is believed to be related to the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, Eostre. Easter’s timing, tied to the spring equinox, reflects the pagan celebration of the spring’s arrival and rebirth.
History
Dating back almost 2000 years ago in 30AD, Jesus Christ was betrayed by one of his disciples, Judas Thaddaeus, for 30 pieces of silver. The Romans later arrested him on Thursday after the Last Supper, where he also promised his disciples that he’d be back three days after his death, because of his claims to be the “Son of God”, and was crucified on Friday (Matthew 26:14-56, 27:28-56). His death and resurrection on that Sunday symbolize victory over death and sin. In varying ways, all four of the gospels in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) state that those who believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection are given “the gift of eternal life,” meaning that those of faith will be welcomed into the “Kingdom of Heaven” upon their earthly death.
Traditions: Then vs Now
Back then, traditional Easter costumes included attending church services for worship, fasting for a few weeks up until the day, and spiritual reflection during the season of Lent. Today, however, people celebrate this holiday in new ways. Easter has been heavily commercialized, from using fuzzy bunnies and bright yellow chicks as the main animal characters to colorful and decorated eggs children hunt for. Things like candy, toys, and large-scale egg hunts with the ultimate prize being a golden egg filled with cash took the spotlight from the religious background.
Symbolism
Lamb is the traditional food for Easter, with Christians referring to Jesus as the ‘Lamb of God’. In the book of Exodus, the people of Egypt suffered a series of terrible plagues, including the death of all firstborn sons, so they painted their doorposts with sacrificed lambs’ blood so that God would “pass over” their homes. For Easter baskets, Christian worshippers brought baskets of food to the church to be blessed by the priest at the end of Lent. The egg, an ancient symbol of new life in pagan customs, has been associated with festivals celebrating spring. From a Christian perspective, Easter eggs are said to represent Jesus’ emergence from the tomb and resurrection. White Easter Lilies symbolize the purity of Christ, and their growth from dormant bulbs in the ground to flowers symbolizes the rebirth and hope of Christ’s resurrection.
