The True Meaning of Easter

To Christians around the world, Easter is the oldest and most important Christian holiday of the year. Easter is the day Christians use to celebrate the resurrection of Christ, or the rising of Christ, from the dead three days after his crucifixion. There is evidence that Christians originally celebrated the resurrection of Christ every Sunday. Over the first two centuries this custom changed and the rising of Christ was celebrated on only one day. After His burial, a large stone was rolled over Christ's tomb and shortly after His death, His followers went back to honor Him. They found that the stone had been moved and that only the cloth that wrapped Jesus' body was there. The story states that His body was no longer in the tomb and it was believed that he had risen from the dead. This account was communicated to His followers by an angel that sat next to His tomb. As it is described in the Bible, the resurrection means that at the very moment that Christ rose from His tomb was the very moment that we would be given everlasting life.

The Easter season begins on Ash Wednesday with Lent, the forty-day period before Easter Sunday. During Lent Christians display their sorrow for their sins and seek forgiveness. It is considered to be a time for atonement. One way Christians show their sorrow is by fasting. This limits the variety and quantity of food that is consumed. Some also give up something meaningful in their lives as benefaction to the suffering of Christ. For the duration of Lent churches hold special services in which ashes are placed on the foreheads of worshipers to remind them to be humble in spirit. The final week of Lent is called Holy Week. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday and celebrates the story of events that led to Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, His sacrifice, and His eventual death. Holy Week ends with Good Friday. Good Friday is the day of celebration that commemorates the day Jesus died on the cross. It is believed that the last three hours leading to His death occurred from the hours of twelve noon to about three o'clock in the afternoon. Churches will hold services during this time to reflect on the last three hours of His life; the three hours of darkness while Jesus suffered on the cross. The last day of celebration is Easter Sunday. On Easter Sunday, services are sometimes held at sunrise to celebrate the resurrection. Many Christians believe that just as Jesus rose from the dead, that they too will rise from the dead and ascend into Heaven. This is not meant to be a time that concentrates on death and sorrow, but rather a time that celebrates the fact that Jesus did rise from the dead, just as prophesied in the Holy Bible. Christians have found hope, faith, and love in this miracle of renewed life.

Easter is also closely related with the season of Spring. New plant life that comes out in spring is symbolic of the new life Christians gain because of Jesus' crucifixion and His resurrection. It has also been considered a day of "white" because church members who are newly baptized will wear white clothing at Easter observances.

In addition to religious observances, other popular customs have also been incorporated into Easter celebrations. Rabbits and eggs, for example, are pagan symbols that are widely used to represent fertility. The egg is a symbol of happiness and celebration as it signifies new life. It has become common tradition for children to find this "new life" and celebrate it by brightly coloring the Easter eggs they have found.