EASTER DAY - 24TH APRIL
CRUCIFIXTION AND RESURRECTION THE RISE FROM GOOD OVER EVIL
A celebration recognised by various cultures that embrace many traditions and customs
Celebrating Easter / Eastre
Easter is one of the most important festivals of the year where religious thoughts turn to the last week of Jesus’s life on earth. The crucifixion, represented by events on Good Friday and the resurrection represented on Easter Sunday.
The rise from the good over evil.
Easter also marks the commencement of spring after the Lent period.
It is a Christian tradition in England, for example, to eat hot cross buns on Good Friday, as they symbolise the cross on which Jesus was crucified. A traditional dinner is prepared on Easter Sunday where gifts are often exchanged. These gifts are usually Easter eggs or baskets that are decorated brightly to highlight the onset of spring – daffodils, rabbits etc. Families and communities sometimes hold Easter Bonnet competitions where the best decorated bonnet wins a prize – usually a chocolate egg or bunny!
In churches across England, a Sunrise Service is held where Christians gather for an Easter vigil. The Paschal candle, which is decorated with studs to resemble Christ’s wounds, is lit from a fire which burns from early on Easter Sunday morning. The candle is then passed to worshippers to light their own candles in celebration.
As Easter has connections with Pagan, Jewish and Christian cultures around the world, it is celebrated in a variety of ways, embracing many traditions and customs and rituals.
Different cultures celebrate the ancient goddesses related to the name Easter or Eastre. Many Wiccans and Neopagans, for example, have a religious celebration after the Spring Equinox as one of the eight sabbats each year. These celebrations involve the planting of summer crops and seeds. The Spring Equinox rituals relate to the fertility of the crops and to the balance of the day and night times.
Often a bonfire is made and part of the ritual involves jumping over the dying embers, as it is believed to assure fertility of both people and the years’ crops.
It is a time for bringing gifts to your family, friends and neighbours. There is no better addition to this celebration than giving those you care about a Love2Donate voucher.
