Easter is considered one of the most important holidays of the year for Christians. This holiday commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ after being crucified on the Cross.
What is Easter?
Easter is the day when the prophet (Jesus) was executed and resurrected by all Christians. This prophet is said by the Bible of the religion to be the son of the supreme being who created all things. And his tragic death was the payment for the sins of mankind. At the same time, this festival also commemorates the new covenant between mankind and the supreme being.
Easter is considered one of the most important holidays of the year for Christians (Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, Anglicans). In ancient times, people called the spring festival (Frühlingsfest / spring festival) or “Ostarum” the Germans called it “Ostara” and the noun “Ostern / Easter” comes from the word “Ost / East” towards the east of spring, the sun is about to rise.
The Jews call this holiday “Paschafest” The Egyptians (Ägypter) call it “Osterlamm/ paschal lamb)” also on the first full moon of spring they kill sheep to celebrate liberation from oppression, escape from slavery.
Origin of Easter
Easter usually takes place on a Sunday around the end of March and the beginning of April to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead after being crucified on the Cross. Easter does not have a fixed date, but people often count Easter as the first Sunday after the first full moon or after the Spring equinox. Therefore, Easter is also considered a spring festival, celebrating the change of seasons with many bright colors.
The Meaning of Easter
Easter is central to Christian belief. Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross, but then rose from the dead and ascended to Heaven in triumph. Because Jesus overcame death and was resurrected, Christians believe that only Jesus has the power to give them eternal life. And that belief is what Christians proclaim every year on Easter, as well as every week on Sunday.
Easter is also a festival of hope because it is the time when Spring returns to all things. Creation is truly miraculous, the tree branches are bare throughout the cold winter, but after just one warm sunny day brought by Spring, small buds or young leaves have sprouted on the branches.
Things to do during Easter
What do people usually do on Easter?
- Fasting and abstaining from meat : more accurately, fasting from food and abstaining from meat. Catholics on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, the two days before Easter, must abstain from meat, junk food, and indulging in unnecessary needs. Any surplus resources are usually given to the poor or donated to the church.
- Arrange the leaves from Palm Sunday: The shapes vary, depending on the skill of each person.
Walk the Way of the Cross: look at 12 pictures depicting each stage of Jesus from his arrest to his death. - Washing feet: taken from a story in the Bible where before Jesus was arrested, he washed the feet of each of his disciples. And he instructed everyone to wash each other’s feet regardless of their position.
- Crucifixion scene: usually in areas with a large Catholic population or countries with a large Catholic population. The scene is based on the story from Jesus’ arrest to his death.
Important days during Easter season
- Palm Sunday: The beginning of the Easter season is Palm Sunday, which tells the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem before his crucifixion. When Jesus arrived, the people waved palm branches to him. Churches have since adopted the tradition of using palm leaves during the holidays.
- Holy Saturday: Holy Saturday is the day Jesus lay in his tomb after his crucifixion. It is also a public holiday in some parts of the United States, Australia, and the West, with government offices remaining closed and stores open with limited hours. Churches do not hold special services on this day, but it is a popular day for naming ceremonies and weddings.
- Easter Sunday: Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, Easter Sunday is a joyous event on the Christian calendar. Churches are decorated with flowers and gold and white, and choirs sing special songs. Children are given chocolate eggs and hunt for the decorated eggs in homes. As it is a public holiday, all businesses are closed, depending on state and territory regulations.
- Easter Monday: Easter Monday is the last day of the Easter holiday. Most businesses and schools remain closed. While this is the final day to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus, many people use this day to attend events or have family meals.
Symbols of Easter
On this day, people often give each other colorful decorated eggs, rabbits or slices of Ham, which are symbolic of this holiday.
Easter eggs
Easter eggs are decorated in many colors.
Eggs are the oldest symbol of Easter, symbolizing fertility. On this occasion, people often give each other colorful decorated eggs, or eggs made of chocolate, plaster or even wool, very eye-catching, decorated by their own hands to replace wishes.
Westerners believed that the Earth was hatched from a giant egg. In the Appalachian Mountains, ancient healers used to spin a ripe egg on a pregnant woman’s belly to predict the child’s future fertility.
The cultural symbolic role of eggs in life is increasingly important. The custom of giving eggs to each other has also been present in many great civilizations.
Archaeological studies have shown that the ancient Egyptians and Sumerians had the custom of decorating eggs as gifts at least 5,000 years ago. Perhaps for these reasons, people recognize eggs as an indispensable symbol of Easter – the day to celebrate the rebirth of Jesus Christ.
Easter Bunny
Rabbit is a symbol of abundant and strong vitality.
In addition to being a symbol of fertility, the rabbit is also a symbol of abundant and strong vitality. In particular, the rabbit is associated with the legend of Ostara, also known as Easter . The name of this spring goddess is used to give the name of Easter.
According to legend, once the goddess brought spring to Earth late, causing all creatures to suffer from cold, including a dying bird with frozen wings. Out of pity, Ostara transformed the bird into her pet rabbit, giving it the ability to lay eggs and run fast. With this ability, the goddess wanted the rabbit to take on all the work of giving gifts to children when spring came.
However, later, the divine rabbit accidentally angered Ostara. The god threw it into the sky and transformed it into the constellation Lepus. The rabbit can only come down to earth once a year in the spring to give lovely eggs to the people on earth.
Since then, the image of rabbits carrying eggs has become a special feature of Western Easter.
Easter Candle
The image of the Easter candle brings people light and warmth, guiding us out of darkness and is a beacon to find the right things and peace.
On the candle body are 5 nail marks (symbolizing the 5 wounds of Jesus), above is the letter alpha and below is the letter omega with the first and last meaning in Greek, symbolizing Jesus as “the beginning and the end”.
World Jambon
Ham is a traditional dish on the dinner table every Easter.
Traditional ham has never been absent from the tables of Christians around the world at Easter. For them, pork is considered the food of God. If the first full moon of autumn is the best time to salt pork, then spring is when Westerners use this stored food. Therefore, ham has become a traditional dish on the table every Easter.
New clothes
It is believed that wearing new clothes on Easter will bring good luck for the rest of the year. According to tradition, new clothes represent renewal and a lucky start – important elements of every Easter celebration.
For Catholics, Easter also represents faith in rebirth and hope for good things. That is also the message that this holiday is conveying to people all over the world.
Easter flowers
Germans often use fresh branches, hang colorful painted eggshells and small chocolate rabbits for children, and commonly used flowers are Osterglocken/daffodil; Tulpen/Tulip; Hyazinthen/hyacinth; Gaenebluemchen/dasiy; Loewenzahn dandetion; Hahnenfuss/buttercup.
Easter usually falls in March or April every year (the Sunday between March 22 and April 25).
Easter Hymn
Easter songs are also an important part of this special holiday. The lyrics and melodies of the songs will express joy and happiness. They express gratitude and wishes for a positive and lucky life.
Customs and rites
The week before Easter, called Holy Week, begins on Palm Sunday (or Passion Sunday) and ends on Holy Saturday (or Easter Vigil). During this week, Christian churches commemorate the Passion of Jesus, celebrating the mysteries that Jesus accomplished during his last days on earth. For Christians, all acts of service during this week express an attitude of sadness, but with a spirit of gratitude because God became human to suffer and die for sinful humanity.
In many Western countries , Easter includes Sunday and Friday as official holidays: In Europe, such as Germany, Good Friday is also an official holiday, on this day, entertainment venues, theaters, and shops are closed to commemorate the Passion of Jesus.
Many Christians make pilgrimages to the Via Dolorpsa in the Old City of Jerusalem to revisit the path of suffering that Jesus carried the saint to Calvary.
In Vietnam , parishes with a large number of parishioners from the North often have rituals of contemplating the 15 sorrows of Christ. In addition, many parishes also reenact the Passion of Christ. On Good Friday, there is also a ceremony of the marriage of Christ.
On Easter Sunday, popes traditionally give the Urbi et Orbi blessing from the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica.
