easter traditions and symbols are abundant. but what are the origins of these easter traditions? learn the history of easter traditions here.
the easter season
easter is not only a holiday but a season unto itself. to many religious people, it marks a time of miracles and a reaffirming of faith. to those with a more secular view of the world, it is a celebration of the end of winter, a time to look toward the warmth of the coming summer and a chance to shed the heavy clothing of the winter for the bright colors of spring.
the date of easter (april 16, 2008)
goddess of the spring
easter is a movable holiday, which is calculated as the first sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after the vernal equinox. if the full moon falls on a sunday, then easter is the following sunday. the holiday can occur anywhere between march 22 and april 25. this year easter is april 16, 2008.
the pagan oigins of easter
long before easter became the holiday it is today, the spring festival was celebrated by the people around the world. the celebration was originally based on the lunar calendar. the name easter is derived from the saxon eostre (which is synonymous with the name of the phoenician goddess of the moon, astartephoto), a germanic goddess of spring and the deity who measured time.
the christian origins of easter
"for god so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. god did not send his son into the world to condemn it, but to save it" (john 3:16-17).
as christianity grew and spread throughout the world, it was common practice to adopt, modify, convert or take over existing non-christian festivals. because eostre was the goddess of spring and her symbolism dealt with renewal and rebirth, the christian belief in the resurrection of christ fit well with these themes.
** the easter story of jesus (photo )
angels adoring the heart of jesus, by vicente lopez portana
on good friday , jesus christ was executed by crucifixion. his body was taken down from the cross, and buried in a cave. the tomb was guarded and an enormous stone was put over the entrance, so that no-one could steal the body.
on the following sunday, some women visited the grave and found that the stone had been moved, and that the tomb was empty. jesus himself was seen that day, and for days afterwards by many people. his followers realised that god had raised jesus from the dead.
** the easter vigil service (15 april 2008 )
the easter vigil service (photo) is the first easter service, and takes place on the night of holy saturday. holy saturday is the saturday after good friday which is often, but wrongly, called easter saturday.
the idea behind the service is for faithful christians to wait and watch, hopeful and confident that christ will return at midnight.
the easter candle (photos) is lit during this service. the service traditionally begins outside the church, where minister and some worshippers gather around a fire - a charcoal brazier is common.
the service begins with words like these:
brothers and sisters in christ, on this most holy night, in which our lord jesus christ passed over from death to life, the church invites her members, dispersed throughout the world, to gather in vigil and prayer.
after being lit outside, the candle is carried into the church, where most of the worshippers are waiting in darkness, which symbolises the darkness of christ"s tomb.