Easter in the 13th Century

The highpoint of Easter in the thirteenth century was called Holy Week. It was also known as the Holy Fire or Lucernarium on Easter Saturday. This was the miraculous lighting of a lamp in the Sepulchre from which all candles and lamps were lit for the Holy Sepulchre and other churches throughout the city. Documented from the fifth century.The accounts of pilgrims, corroborated by a manuscript of the rite of the Holy Sepulchre of 1122 demonstrate". The Easter Vigil had the text of the Maries at the tomb, Matthew 28:1 - 20 as its main New Testament reading, after the sacrament of Baptism had taken place". This was followed the next day, on Easter Sunday, by the Orthros or morning prayer.

The Holy Fire is described as a fiery red light, the holy light of God shining in the tomb. The practice of the Holy Fire in Jerusalem in the twelfth century in its miraculous character served to sustain the ritual this ceremony was practiced in Orthodox monasteries elsewhere. The crucifixion of Christ (Jesus) is a symbol of everlasting life. This also serves as a sign for the Christian believer to be prepared, like the Wise Virgins, for their own calling to account at the Last Judgement.

Now in other cultures, Easter is about Estre, a Teutonic goddess of the rising light of day and spring. Her deity is unknown. The month of April has complicatated meanings but is well known for the 7 day feast in most religons. This is the entire octive of Easter. Some may say that this is the greatest feast and festival of all holidays. It is the center of death giving to life as winter ends and spring begins. Commemorating the slaying of the true Lamb of God and the Resurrection of Christ, the corner-stone upon which faith is built, it is also the oldest feast of the Christian believer. Know the Easter bunny was a pagen symbol and has always been a sign of fertility.

So, Easter as we know of it today is a string of events but most of all about spring and Christ. I am sure we rarely think of the Easter Bunny bringing eggs to lay out in the garden. Most of us have made the bunny a fairytale now instead of the Goddess Estre. Many businesses have considered Christmas a major holiday and have opened up shop for Easter. When in the thirteenth century it was highly held as the major events of all holidays, tying the knots of other feast holidays together.