Easter Celebrations: Important and Useful Information About Easter

Easter is considered to be a Christian holiday season in the United States and some other countries, and distinctly celebrates the resurrection of Christ as clearly stated in the New Testament of the Bible. Attached to this season are a number of symbols and traditions. The most popular days associated with the season are Good Friday and Easter (resurrection) Sunday. Celebrations usually begin around the third week of March until the end of March.

The most significant symbol is the cross that symbolizes Christ crucifixion and resurrection. This is the symbol that most of the Christian churches today use to represent Christianity in a unique way. Anywhere the cross that is designed and represented in the shape known to be associated with Christ crucifixion is seen we normally know that that church or institution is a Christian church.

The lamb (another symbol) is also associated with Christ as the son of God who gave himself as a sacrifice. In the Christian Bible, he is known as the "Lamb of God." For those of us who believe in the Bible, we know that this means that he gave or sacrificed his life for all mankind's eternal life.

There are also lights, candles and bonfires that mark Easter celebrations in other countries. Some people will say that some Roman Catholics, for example, will put candles in the Church out on Good Friday and light them again with pascal candle or Easter candle, on Easter Monday.

During Easter, for new life that returns to nature, eggs are the symbolic features. There is also the custom of exchanging eggs said to come from the days of some Egyptians. There were some Christians who used colored eggs in early years of celebrations to symbolize Christ Resurrections. Some people even say that early English Christians used to write messages and dates on their eggs and exchange them with friends and loved ones. It is not clearly known if this is being done today.

In the mind of some people, it is said that rabbits symbolized new life and rebirth as was the case in ancient Egypt. Why? They considered that to be a symbol of the moon because the moon, to them, determined the date of Easter. And in Germany, we are being told that Easter Bunny's visit is based upon a German Legend that said a poor woman decorated eggs for her kids to find or discover during famine. When they found them, they will usually see a bunny. It is not clearly know what transpired after that.

Today, many Christians see the tradition of going to church on Good Friday and Easter Sunday (the symbolic days for the death and resurrection of Christ, respectfully) as a must for all who desire to remember the sacrifice of Christ. In some countries, like the Caribbean Islands, Easter bun and cheese are very popular food that is eaten in abundance during this time of year.

These are just some of the symbols and traditions of Easter as celebrated around the world today and historically. Many of the Bible New Testament information stems from Christians passing on some information to others who in modern times interpret them according to denominational church beliefs. Easter, however, is distinctly a holiday associated with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ from the Christian Bible New Testament.

Sources:
http://www.indobase.com/holidays/easter/easter-facts/index.html