Easter Sunday – the Resurrection of the Christ Jesus
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Easter Sunday is a holy day of obligation in the Christian community. It is one of the most celebrated events in the Christian church as it is the day Jesus Christ rose back from the dead. It marks the end of the season of Lent - 40 days of repentance, fasting, and spiritual discipline in preparation for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He died on the cross on Good Friday, and on the third day He rose from the dead.
Although Easter Sunday is a Christian celebration, it is also celebrated by non Christians and has secular aspects. It is also has a commercial and economic impact on establishments especially in countries where Easter Sunday is observed.
Religious aspects of Easter
Traditionally, observance of the Easter Sunday starts with the Easter vigil that is observed on the Saturday before Easter and is mostly practiced by Roman Catholics and Lutherans. The vigil is the most important liturgy in the church’s calendar. The vigil starts in total darkness with the blessing of the Easter fire and then the lighting of the Paschal candle which is the symbol of the risen Christ. This ritual is called the service of light, after which passages from the scripture about the story of creation, the sacrifices of Isaac, stories about the crossing of the Red Sea and prophecy on the forthcoming Messiah are read. At this point, the lights are turned up and the church bells are rung. It is part of the Christian tradition that converts are baptized during the Easter vigil and the sacrament of confirmation is celebrated where the congregation renews their baptismal vows. The vigil is concluded with the Holy Eucharist or what is commonly known as the Holy Communion.
On the day of Easter, additional celebrations are offered including the Sunrise Service and mass services all throughout the day incorporate lively music using of trumpets and other musical instruments. The church is also decorated festively with banners and flowers.
Secular aspects of Easter
As with any other religious celebrations, Easter also has its secular side. Historians say that some of the customs observed during Easter has its pagan roots. According to one belief, the name “Easter” was derived from the goddess of spring name Eostre who was honored n Europe for bringing in the season of spring after the sun dies in winter.
One of the most famous traditions during Easter is the exchange of Easter eggs. For the most part, the eggs symbolize a new life and rebirth. In the past, people would wrap the eggs in gold leaves and give it to one another. The custom of painting eggs in bright colors started with the North African tribes who were converted into Christianity. It is customary for Christians to abstain from meat through the whole period of Lent and on Easter Sunday the people can enjoy meat and eggs after the long period of abstinence. In present times, it is common to see establishments and households having Easter egg hunts using real eggs and plastic eggs stuffed with candies, chocolates and marshmallows.
