Easter is a Christian Holiday that is celebrated in the historical event of resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his crucifixion according to the Christian beliefs and thoughts. The Resurrection of Jesus holds a very significant importance in the central Christian faith and some people have even gone to the extent saying that there is actually no Christianity without the remembrance and celebration of Easter. Easter is one of the most celebrated Christian events in the Christian year after the Christmas and is one of the oldest too. Easter holds very symbolic and significant meaning that has its roots in the very base of the Christian faith and belief in it can be regarded as one of the pillars of faith in Christian Religion. Easter is also known by its Latin name ‘Pascha’.
The Easter is of immense importance in Christianity. There has been disputes regarding the dates of Easter and no common ground has been achieved by the many Christian groups regarding the common date of Easter.The method of determination of the day of Easter exactly is complex and has been a controversial matter amongst Christian’s groups for long. The simpler way to determine this is that Easter is held on the very first Sunday after the full moon of the Spring Equinox.
Following the day of Easter, a period of 40 days is followed that is called the period of ‘Lent’. These 40 days, Christians observe prayers, fasting and repentance of their sins. At the end of 40 day period, there are 10 days of other holy Christian rituals that make the total of 50 days of Easter-tide or Easter season. This season of Easter is celebrates and spent with utmost fervor by the Christian community and the season ends on a Sunday more commonly known as ‘Pentecost’ Sunday.
Easter is celebrated with utmost zeal and enthusiasm in the Christian world and proper preparations are made for this very occasion. Christians all over the world gather in Churches and congregate, having a holiday on that day. They are dressed in their best and share goodies and sweets amongst themselves in order to show their commemoration of this event. Many customs and traditions are associated with Easter and are avidly followed on this event. In countries in which Christianity is the state religion, large scale festivals and celebrations are carried out. In some countries, Parades are also carried out and the religious figures make walks in remembrance of the Crucession.
One of the most common Easter celebrations and traditions is to color hard boiled eggs and distribute candies and sweets amongst each other. The reason for the distribution of sweets is that during the period of Lent, sweets and candies are prohibited and as it is a festive time, people just share the happiness that can be very easily felt in the air. American traditions include the distribution of Easter eggs to people by way of Easter bunnies that are a symbol more closely related to Santa Claus. Also that rabbits and eggs are used as a symbol of celebration of Easter as these were the symbols of fertility in the old times and thus got associated with this merry occasion.
All over the world, the traditions and customs of Easter are almost the same with few minor differences. Saturdays is spent decorating Easter eggs and spreading them across the house and lawn, so that children can find them the following day. To the young ones, it is implied that the Easter bunny is responsible for the spread of eggs and they are gifts for anyone who can find them. Families usually go for Sunday service at the church and have a very festive feast in the afternoon that is usually a Roast or Lamb or Ham. Also in some countries, hot cross buns are also the symbolic element of Easter celebration.