Easter customs and traditions
Easter is the time for holidays, festivals and a time for giving chocolate Easter eggs. But we have to know, that Easter means much more. It is the oldest and the most important Christian Festival, the celebration of the death and coming to life again of Jesus Christ.
Easter is of course an important event in European countries and in America. It simbolise nature’s awakening from winter’s sleep.It is perhaps the single most important day in the Christain calendar.
Easter is celebrated every spring. It is always celebrated on a Sunday. Easter has its roots in many traditions gathered from many parts of the globe. The day we celebrate changes every year because it is based on the moon. Easter is celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox. This means that Easter can fall as early as March 22 or as late as April 25. This year it is on April 11th.
Many Easter customs come from the Old World. The white lily, the symbol of the resurrection, is the special Easter flower. Rabbits and colored eggs have come from pagan antiquity as symbols of new life. Easter Monday egg rolling, a custom of European origin, has become a tradition on the lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C.
There are many symbols of Easter:
Rabbits
The first mention of the Easter Bunny and his eggs comes from Germany in the late 1500s. The Easter Bunny is not a modern invention. The symbol originated with the pagan festival of Eastre. Rabbits are reminder of spring and new life. They were the favorite animal of the spring goddess Eastre.
Easter Lilies
In early Christian art the lily is a symbol of purity because of its delicate form and white color. .The lily was adopted as the Easter flower.
Easter Flowers:- Such as daffodil, narcissus and the tulip. Area symbol as they bloom in the spring.
The Cross:- This is the symbol for the Christian religion as Jesus was nailed to a cross but then came back to life.
Chicks:- The chicks are born from eggs and are a reminder of spring and Easter
Palm Branches:- These are used as a symbol of peace
Bread:- Unleavened flat bread is eaten to remember Jesus’s sacrifice.
Wine:- Red wine is drunk to remember Jesus shedding His blood for humans.
Fireworks:- These are believed to frighten away evil spirits. They also show that out of darkness comes light.
New Clothes
. Wearing new clothes for Easter is a custom common among many Christians. It may have originated from the old practice of having newly baptized Christians wear new white clothes for the Easter celebration. Like many other Easter symbols, the new clothes represent the new life offered through the death and Resurrection of Jesus