In the Christian faith, Easter is celebrated to commemorate the resurrection of Christ. Thus it is the most sacred of all holy days. There is nothing more important to a Christian than the sacrificial death and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God! Without these historical events, the Christian faith is worthless (1 Corinthians 15:14). Easter is a festival of overwhelming joy that celebrates life – or rather, the victory of life over death. It is a festival that denotes life, rejuvenation, renewal, rebirth and restoration of all beings on earth. The highlights of the Easter story include Jesus' execution (or crucifixion on the cross), His burial and, most importantly, His rising from death (or resurrection).
Easter is celebrated the world over. However, the festival has been commercialized too much by companies manufacturing Easter related goods and the greeting card industry. It is important that in all the commercialization of this very important festival, one does not forget the history of Easter. In the celebration of Easter, there seems to be a convergence of the three traditions - Pagan, Hebrew and Christian.
The origin of the word “Easter” is not certain. It was probably derived from Estre, the pagan Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, to whom the month of April was dedicated. When the second-century Christian missionaries encountered the tribes of the north with their pagan celebrations, they attempted to convert them to Christianity. To save lives, the missionaries cleverly decided to spread their religious message slowly by allowing the local people to continue celebrating pagan feasts, but to do so in a Christian manner. Whenever possible, they transformed local pagan customs to harmonize with Christian doctrine.
Easter is linked to the Jewish Passover not only for much of its symbolism but also for its position in the calendar. The New Testament links the Last Supper and Jesus' crucifixion with Passover and the Exodus from Egypt. As Jesus prepared Himself and His disciples for His death in the upper room during the Last Supper, He gave the Passover meal a new meaning: He became our “Passover Sacrificial Lamb”.
Most Christians celebrate Christ's resurrection on Easter Day or Easter Sunday (also Resurrection Day or Resurrection Sunday), two days after Good Friday. Easter is a moveable feast, meaning it is not fixed in relation to the regular calendar. The origins of Easter date to the beginnings of Christianity, and it is probably the oldest Christian observance after the Sabbath (observed on Saturday). Easter falls at some point between March 22 and April 25 each year, following the cycle of the moon.
This year, Easter Sunday falls on 4th April, 2010 (Easter weekend runs from Friday 2nd – Monday 5th of April). Have a blessed Easter!
