What is Easter?
     Easter is the celebration of Jesus Christ’s return to life after his crucifixion. It is usually celebrated the first Sunday after the full moon following the first day of Spring and can be as early as March 22nd and as late as April 25th. It is the most sacred of all the Christian holidays or celebrations. Easter is the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection and the Christians believe they too, can receive new life after death.
     A long time ago, people used to celebrate when spring arrived. They used to believe the changes in seasons was guided by spirits or gods. The new life of plants and flowers blooming, animals coming out of hibernation, and the birds returning, bringing back life to the land, is a symbol of the new life the Christians gain because of Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection.
     In ancient Egypt, Easter was celebrated at the same time Jesus was crucified during the Passover. In 325 AD a group of men met in Nicaea, now called Turkey, and decided Easter should be a different day. They chose the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox. This special Sunday is the only day in spring when both day and night last exactly 12 hours.
     Lent is the forty days prior to Easter Sundays. Sundays are not counted because it is the Lord’s day and should not be celebrated. Lent is a period of fasting, praying and repentance. This is to serve as a reminder of the forty days Jesus fasted in the wilderness. Mardi Gras, which means “Fat Tuesday” in French, is the day before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.
     Shrove Tuesday is the last Tuesday before Lent. It is a day of feasting. In some countries, people stopped eating fat for Lent and so on Shrove Tuesday, they would use up all the fat in their cupboards. In Germany and Austria they would make crullers (doughnuts). During Lent in England, people did not eat eggs and so they would make pancakes to use up all the eggs. The Pennsylvania Dutch make Fastnachts, a doughnut traditionally without a hole, to use up their extra eggs and lard.
     Ash Wednesday is the first day of lent. Long ago, Christians dressed in their old clothes on this day. They would rub ashes on their foreheads to show God they were sorry for the wrong things they had done through the year.
     Palm Sunday is during the last week of Lent. It is one week before Easter Sunday. This is the day Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey. Jesus’ followers were happy to see him. As Jesus traveled the road to Jerusalem, the people took palm branches and placed them on the road and waved them as he went by.
     Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, commemorates the Last Supper. At the Last Supper, Jesus gave the disciples a new commandment to love one another as he had loved them. Prior to breaking the bread with the disciples, Jesus washed their feet. Maundy Thursday worship services include Communion and may also include a foot washing as well.
     Good Friday is the day Jesus died. In other countries, it is called Big Friday, Holy Friday or Silent Friday. This is a sad day for Christians because people thought they would never see Jesus again.
     And so, Easter Sunday is a day of rejoicing. It was on Easter Sunday the friends of Jesus learned He was alive again. They went to the cave where he was buried, and found the rock blocking the entrance was rolled away and the cave empty.

Easter Symbols and Their Meanings
     The Cross is the most common symbol of Christianity. It represents the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. Christians believe that Jesus’ crucifixion played a certain role in redeeming humanity from its sins, and they regard the cross as a sign of redemption. Various groups of Christians have adapted different styles of crosses. Roman Catholics and Protestants chiefly use the Latin cross. This cross is a vertical post with a shorter horizontal crosspiece above the center. Many Eastern Orthodox Churches use the Greek cross, which has four arms of equal length.
     Sunday is an Easter symbol that is also observed the year round. Christians traditionally worship on Sunday because that day is associated with the Resurrection.
     Candles are burned during many Easter celebrations, especially the vigil and midnight services before Easter Sunday. Christians associate Jesus with the light from candles, calling Him “the Light of the World.” Many churches extinguish candles on their altars on Good Friday to show that Jesus’ light has gone out. The candle represents Jesus’ return to life. The candle is often lit during the next 40 days, until it is put on Ascension Day.
     Easter Lilies are used to decorate churches and homes. The large, pure white blossoms remind Christians of the pure new life that comes to them through the Resurrection of Jesus.
     Eggs and rabbits are the only familiar symbols unrelated to the Easter story. Eggs, which represent new life, have been a symbol of spring since ancient times. Christians adopted the egg as an Easter symbol because of the relationship between Easter and the renewal of life.
     Rabbits are associated with the fertility of spring because of their ability to produce many young. Some parents tell their children that the Easter Rabbit, or Easter Bunny, bring Easter eggs.
     The lamb is a particularly important Easter symbol in center and eastern European countries. It represents Jesus and relates His death to that of the lamb sacrificed on the first Passover. Christians traditionally refer to Jesus as “the Lamb of God.” Many people serve lamb as part of the Easter feast. In many homes, a lamb shaped cake decorates the table.
     Besides lamb and eggs, certain other foods are associated with the Easter season. Pretzels, for example, were originally a Lenten food. Their twisted shape suggested arms crossed in prayer.
     Hot cross buns, now eaten throughout the Easter season, were first baked in England to be served on Good Friday. The buns have a cross of icing on the top. Some people have suggested the connection to the ancient sacramental cakes.