Happy Easter guyz... Here's another fest to celebrate. We observed Easter celebration every year, but do we really know it's origin, symbol, and meaning...? Well, I can share some of the things I've known.
Easter Definition:
- Most important Christian festival of the year
- Celebrates the return to life of Jesus Christ (Resurrection) after Crucifixion
Easter Date: First Sunday after the first full moon following the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Usually fall between March 22 and April 25. Why so early this year?
Story of Easter:
- Judas' Betrayal and Peter's Denial
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' disciples sold Jesus to the Jews with 30 pieces of silver and betrayed Him with a kiss... Afer Jesus prayed at the garden of Gethsemane, Judas together with a multitude with swords and staves with them, met Jesus and arrested Him. They then brought Him to Caiaphas the high priest, and where the scribes and elders assembled. And when they condemned that He is guilty of death, they mocked Him and spit on His face, and did strike Him with the palms of their hands. And Peter his Master from afar, and then a maid asked him if he is a follower of Christ, and he said not. Another maid asked him, and he denied it again. And for the third time, Peter denied Him again. Then the second time the cock crew. Then Peter remembered Jesus's words saying: "Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he then wept.
- Jesus's Crucfixion and Burial
Then straightaway in the morning, they delivered Jesus in the hands of Pilate. Pilate said he found no fault in Him, yet the multitude shouted "Crucify Him! Release Barabbas!" coz' it so happened that every passover fiest, they will release a prisoner. And Pilate gave sentenced that it should be as they required. He delivered Jesus in the hands of the crowd. They mocked Him, stripped Him and put on Him a scarlet robe, put a crown of thorns upon His head, and mocked Him saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"; they spit on Him and smote Him on His head; and they crucified Him. And they set up a writing over His head saying: THIS IS JESUS THE KINGS OF THE JEWS. Then Jesus died after He gave His ghost.
Then Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea begged Pilate for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body of Jesus to be delivered. Joseph took the body, wrapped in white clean linen cloth and laid the body on a new tomb; then rolled a great stone in the sepulchre.
The next day after the preparation day (Sabbath day), the chief priest and the Pharisees asked Pilate to put guards on the tomb coz' they stated that "the deceiver said that He will arise after three days". They said that the disciples might come at night and steal His body, and then say unto the people that He is risen from the dead. So they put a guard on it.
Now, upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the sepulchre. And behold the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and rolled the stone from the door. And because of fear, the keepers did shake and died. The angels then told the ladies that "He Is Risen" ! Go quickly, and tell His disciples.
Word Origin:
- Eastre- english word; name of a pagan goddess of spring, the name of a spring festival, or the name of the season itself
- Eostarun- german word; means dawn
- Albae- latin word; means both dawn and white; Easter was consider day of white because newly baptized members wear white clothes at Easter observances.
- Pascha- other term use to name Easter; comes from the hebrew word pesah which means passover (deliverance of Jews from the Egyptians); Jesus was celebrating the Passover before He was crucified.
Lent Period:
The first and best-known part of the season. A period of about 40 days before the Easter Sunday. They consider it a time of penance-a time to show sorrow for sins and to seek forgiveness. Based on the 40 day fasting of Jesus and the 40 year journey of the Israelites from Egpyt to Jerusalem.
- Begins on Ash Wednesday: start of the Lent period for the Roman Catholic, Angelican, and Lutheran. Based on the text Gen. 3:19 "for dust thou art, and unto dust shall thou return". .
- Forgiveness Sunday: observed by Eastern Orthodox churches; sunday before the Ash wednesday. Lent officially begins in the Eastern Orthodox churches on the next day called Pure Monday.
Holy week: final week of Lent period. Recalls the events leading to Jesus' death and Resurrection.
- Palm Sunday: first day of the Holy week. This celebrates Jesus' triumphal entry in Jerusalem where people spread palm branches and clothing before Him. Many churches distribute palm leaves, and sometimes woven them into cross as a practice.
- Maundy Thursday: also called Holy Thurdsday; recalls Jesus' last meal (Last Supper) and His arrest and imprisonment. Many churches do Communion (feet-washing) services in this day, which portraits the Last Supper.
- Good Friday: observes the death of Jesus in the cross. Most churches hold mourning services on this day. Other christians such as in spanish-speaking countries hold processions in which people carry statues of the dying Jesus and Mary. Philippines hold a parade which portrait how Jesus carried the cross in the streets of Jerusalem.
- Holy Saturday: day of solemn vigil. The major activity of the day comes at nightfall as observance as the resurrection approaches. This moment includes candle lighting which represents spreading of Jesus' light throughout the world.
- Easter Sunday: celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus. Mostly the major event are held on Saturday night. This day is usually set aside for outdoor Easter services, fiests and celebrations.
Easter Symbols:
- Crucifix and the Cross: Crucifix- a cross with an image of Jesus' body hanging from it. It symbolizes Jesus as a sacrifice. An empty cross- without the figure of Christ cruicified- symbolizes Jesus' victory over death and the new life and hope this victor brings to the believers
- Sunday: assocaited with Resurrection
- Candles: represents Jesus' return to life; the Light of the World.
- Eggs and rabbits: egg represents new life; rabbits are associated with thier fertility of spring because of their ability to produce many young.
- The Lamb: represents Jesus and relates His death to that of a lamb sacrificed during Passover.
Easter Customs:
- Carnivals: Provides opportunities and merrymaking before the solem fast days of Lent. Carnivals often feature parades in which people wear elaborate costumes. The most famous carnival is the Mardi Gras, celebrated on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent begins. Mardi Gras is a french term which literally means Fat Tuesday. Mostly christians hold parades and fiest; eating and drinking the food that they can't eat from Ash Wednesday.
- Easter Eggs: exchanging and eating easer eggs. The eggs are hardboiled and dyed in different colors. In many countries, children hunt for Easter eggs hidden at home.
- Passion Plays: dramatize the Easter story
- Feasting: celebrates the fiest at Easter Sunday
- Wearing New Clothes: represents the New Life offered through Jesus' Resurrection
Honestly, it is just now that I know about this festival. I really don't have any idea about the eggs and rabbits.. lolz... And tis' now that I know the meaning of the Lent Period and the Holy week. But as I made this post, I reviewed the story of Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection. The Crucufixion is so heart-crushing. I haven't seen the movie the The Passion of Mel Gibson, but I can really picture out His pain and agony. Walking in the streets of Jerusalem half naked, worn a crown of thorns, with blood on His face; mocked and abused. They nailed the hands that give them life.
And Pilate's action really amazed me. Do you think he believed in Jesus as a King? He told the crowd three times that he saw no fault in Him. Or maybe he is just a coward. He's afraid of civil war. He's afraid that he can't get the multitude's support.
But the Crucifixion needs to be done. Not only to fulfill the prophecies, but also to save us from our sins. He took our part in the Calvary. He served as a sacrificed for us to be saved. Christ's Resurrection proves something. His victory against death gives us hope. It shows that He can't only redeem His own self in death, but also the entire christian community. What a Great Love Indeed!
Reference: New Testament, The World Book Encyclopedia
