True Meaning Of Easter

Religious Meaning

Easter is a Christian feast and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion at Calvary as described in the New Testament. Easter is preceded by Lent, a forty-day period of fasting, praying, and penance. The last week of Lent is called Holy Week, and it contains the days of the Easter Triduum, including Maundy Thursday, commemorating Maundy and the Last Supper, as well as Good Friday, commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Easter is followed by a fifty-day period called Eastertide or the Easter Season, ending with Pentecost Sunday. The festival is referred to in English by a variety of different names including Easter Day, Easter Sunday, Resurrection Day and Resurrection Sunday.

Easter is a moveable feast, meaning it is not fixed in relation to the civil calendar. The First Council of Nicaea established the date of Easter as the first Sunday after the full moon (the Paschal Full Moon) following the northern hemisphere's veranl equinox. Ecclesiastically, the equinox is reckoned to be on March 21 (even though the equox occurs, astronomically speaking, on March 20 in most years), and the "Full Moon" is not necessarily the astronomically correct date. The date of Easter therfore varies between March 22 and April 25. Eastern Christianity bases its calculations on the Julian calendar whose March 21 corresponds, during the 21st century, to April 3 in the Gregorian calendar, in which the celebration of Easter therefore varies between April 4 and May 8.

Easter islinked to the Jewish Passover by much of its symbolism, as well as by its position in the calendar. In many languages, the words for "Easter" and "Passover" are stymologically related or homonymous. Easter customs vary across the Christian world, but decorating Easter eggs, a symbol of the empty tomb, is a common motif. In the Western world, customs such as egg hunting and the Easter Bunny occur within the outside of the Church, often having a secular character.

Pagan Meaning

The older European and pre-European holiday traditions were not based upon claimed religious phenomenon, but rather upon seasonal characteristics of nature. The ancient traditions were founded by people who were highly aware of seasonal change and arranged their lives and festivites around them accordingly, explicitly marking the spring and fall equinoxes as well as the summer and winter solstices. These periods acknowledged and celebrated the Sun god and its relation to society. The Sun god was seen as the provider of the energy for life from which they prospered, and was therefore given reverence. Even today Judeo-Christians borrow extensively from pagan wisdom while otherwise slandering and misrepresenting paganism. If you go to a sunrise service on Easter, reflect for a moment about why the rising sun is an inherently powerful and appealing force to our inner spirit.

Symbols Of Easter

Many images are associated with Easter - from both Christianity and popular culture.
Light - Candles are used in religious rituals at Easter to symbolize the resurrection of Christ, as light coming out of darkness.

Eggs - As symbols of fertility, eggs have been used throughout time to represent new life. They are also symbols of celebration after Lent (when foods from animal sources are not allowed). Today, we celebrate Easter with colourful, chocolate eggs.

Rabbits - In modern celebrations of Easter, the Easter Bunny (and rabbits in general) are linked with fertility and new life - and their ability to produce many offspring! The goddess Estre was also represented by a rabbit.

Lambs - As well as symbols of new life, baby lambs are associated with Jesus as symbols of sacrifice - Jesus gave his life so that our sins would be forgiven

Chicks - Fluffy baby chickees are common symbols of Easter, connected with eggs and representing new life.

Easter Lilies - These white flowers are used to decorate churches and homes; they symbolize the purity of new life.

The Cross - Crosses, such as those on hot cross buns, remind us of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus

Easter here in New Zealand doesn't fall in Spring, it falls in Autumn. For me and mine, since I'm not religious is all about Hot Cross buns and Easter Eggs. There is nothing like having a hot Hot Cross bun dripping with butter for breakfast over Easter. However people celebrate Easter, is a personal thing. Easter is another holiday that has been turned into a total money maker, and it is up to the individual if they are pulled into that side of Easter. Easter should be a time to spend with family, and a time of peace.

Happy Easter everyone, please make sure its a safe one as well.