The True Meaning of Easter
Easter has
become a time of easter bunnies, easter eggs, and chocolate; don't lose
sight
of the real meaning of Easter, namely the Crucifixion and Resurrection
of Jesus
Christ,
the Son of God
A Christian feast commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is observed on the first Sunday following the full moon occurring on or next after March 21. The word Easter originated from the saxon word "Eostre", the goddess of the Saxons, in whose name sacrifies were offered about the time of the Passover. Easter Day is currently determined as the first Sunday after the full moon on or just after March 21.
The real meaning of Easter is to celebrate the fact that 2,000 years ago Christ was crucified (put to death by nailing his wrists and feet to a cross). He then was laid to rest in a tomb but after three days he was resurrected (rose from the dead) .
Good Friday denotes Jesus' crucifixion and Easter Sunday denotes his resurrection. The tomb in Jerusalem remains empty. Jesus lives, and since he died for your sins, so can you live, eternally!.
"For God so loved
the world
that He gave His only begotten Son;
that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish,
but have everlasting life."
John 3:16
Easter Traditions: Easter Eggs
The tradition of an egg symbolizing the spring season and renewed life is one that spans many cultures. Believed to be a custom in ancient Egypt, Greece, and China, to name a few, people gave eggs as gifts at spring festivals.
An old myth was that the Sun was a bird that was hatched from an "egg world," and in another version the world emerged from a "Universe egg."
Often times the color of eggs and the way they are used have certain significance. Some Orthodox Christians still practice a tradition of baking red-colored eggs into bread, with "red" being symbolic of Christ's blood and bread the staff of life. The egg-encrusted bread is brought to midnight mass for a blessing, and on Easter morning it is given to a friend or family member, usually a Godparent.
Polish folklore tells of a man who was bringing a basket of eggs to sell at the market on Good Friday. When he saw Christ struggling with the cross on his back, the man put down the basket to help him. Upon retrieving his basket, the eggs had miraculously turned into glorious colors.
For a time, eggs were forbidden during lent. People would hard-boil eggs to save them until they could be eaten and given as gifts on Easter. Now a fun custom for children, dying eggs probably started as a way for families to teach children about the spiritual meaning of Easter. And as for the Easter egg hunt, what child's interest wouldn't be peaked with the promise of an adventure.
