Easter

 

Easter is one of the most important Christian festivals. It is celebrated world over in areas where Christians live. Christians believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. Christians remember the last week of Jesus life at the time of Easter. Easter celebrates is a foundation of the Christian faith. The resurrection established Jesus as the powerful Son of God and is cited as proof that God will judge the world in righteousness the most important and oldest festival of the Christian Church celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ and held in the Western Church between March 21 and April 25 on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the northern spring equinox. Many Christians worldwide celebrate Easter with special church services’ music’ candlelight flowers and the ringing of church bells. Easter processions are held in some countries such as the Philippines and Spain. Many Christians view Easter as the greatest feast of the Church year. It is a day of joy and celebration to commemorate that Jesus Christ is risen according to Christian belief. Easter Sunday falls on a Sunday which is a non working day in countries such as Australia’ Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Government offices and schools are closed in countries where Sunday is a non working day transport schedules may be limited or operate on a different schedule to that of the working week, so those intending on traveling via public transport may need to check their schedules ahead of time. According to the Gospel of John in the New Testament Mary Magdalene came to the tomb where Jesus was buried and found it empty. An angel told her that Jesus had risen. Christians worldwide have celebrated Easter for centuries. Easter eggs also called Paschal eggs are decorated eggs that are usually used as gifts on the occasion of Easter or springtime celebration. As such Easter eggs are common during the season of Easter tide Easter season. The oldest tradition is to use dyed and painted chicken eggs but a modern custom is to substitute chocolate eggs wrapped in colorful foil or plastic eggs filled with confectionery such as chocolate. Although eggs in general were a traditional symbol of fertility and rebirth in Christianity for the celebration of Easter tide Easter eggs symbolize the empty tomb of Jesus from which Jesus resurrected. In addition one ancient tradition was the staining of Easter eggs with the colour red in memory of the blood of Christ shed as at that time of his crucifixion. This custom of the Easter egg can be traced to early Christians of Mesopotamia and from there it spread into Russia and Siberia through the Orthodox Churches and later into Europe through the Catholic and Protestant Churches. This Christian use of eggs may have been influenced by practices in pre dynastic period in Egypt as well as amid the early cultures of Mesopotamia and Crete. The Easter Bunny also called the Easter Rabbit or Easter Hare is a folkloric figure and symbol of Easter depicted as a rabbit bringing Easter eggs. Originating among German Lutherans the Easter Hare originally played the role of a judge evaluating whether children were good or disobedient in behavior at the start of the season of Easter tide. The Easter Bunny is sometimes depicted with clothes. the creature carries colored eggs in his basket’ candy and sometimes also toys to the homes of children and as such shows similarities to Santa Claus or the Christ kind as they both bring gifts to children on the night before their respective holidays.