This Sunday, March 31 is Easter – a Christian holiday that marks the resurrection of Jesus on the third day after his crucifixion, as described in the New Testament of the bible. There are several other Christian holidays that culminate in Easter. This includes Lent, the forty day period preceding Easter; Holy Thursday, commemorating the Last Summer; and Good Friday, the day Jesus was said to have been crucified.
The date that Easter is celebrated changes year to year and was first established by the Council of Nicaea in 325, where it was decided that Easter would be held on the first Sunday after the full moon following the March equinox. Easter is closely related to the Jewish holiday of Passover, which is celebrated around the same date.
The holiday is celebrated differently throughout the world. In Northwestern Europe large bonfires, called Easter Fires, are lit on Easter Sunday and Monday. While the tradition has many origins, a popular Saxon tale is that Easter is a time when is the spring wins the battle over winter. Today the big fires bring the community together. In some Caribbean nations homemade kites are flown to represent Jesus’ ascension to heaven. Many Latin American countries, as well as places like Spain and Italy, hold parades made up of large processions of religious figures.
In North America, as well as many other English speaking countries, rabbits and eggs are common Easter symbols. Saturday is often spent decorating “Easter Eggs,” which are hidden for children to find on a Easter Egg Hunt. The “Easter Bunny” – a sort of Easter Santa Claus – is known to deliver candy. Large Sunday dinners are also popular.
Many non-Christians celebrate Easter as a time of community, food and fun, especially for children. There are also Easter-themed events held in most communities, including all the Boston neighborhoods – check out a list here and share your Easter stories with Global Immersions!
sources: Huffington Post, Wikipedia
