Easter
It is celebrated as the religious
holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Easter
is also the time of spring festivals.
But the celebrations of Easter
have many aspects that are pagan in origin and not associated with Christianity.
The name Easter is thought to come from the goddess of mythology "Eastre,". She is associated with spring and fertility. Her
festival was celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox. Traditions
associated with her festival survive in the Easter Bunny, a symbol of fertility, and
in colored easter eggs that were painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight
of spring and given as gifts.
The Christian celebration of Easter encompasses a number of traditions with
emphasis on the relation of Easter to the Jewish Passover. The early Christians,
many of whom were of Jewish origin, were brought up in the Hebrew
tradition and regarded Easter as a new feature of the Passover festival, a
commemoration of the advent of the Savior as foretold by the prophets. Easter
is observed on the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or
following the spring equinox (March 21). So Easter became a feast which
can occur as early as March 22 or as late as April 25. Easter is at the end
of Lent. The Lent is a period of penitence in preparation for Easter. Lent
ends with Easter Sunday, the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Have some Easter fun:
Our site has recipes, gifts,
party ideas, facts about Jesus
Christ and the Easter Bunny,
Free Easter Greeting Cards,
Making Colored Easter Eggs
and a Coloring Book For Your Child or have the Easter
Bunny send your child a Special
Personalized Letter.
