• The history of Easter is Christian, Hebrew, and Pagan.
• Like the days of the week, Easter's name is a survival from Teutonic mythology. The word "Easter" is thought to be derived from the Scandinavian word "Ostra"and Teutonic words, "Ostern" or "Eastre." Both Ostern and Eastre are mythological goddesses of spring and fertility. Their festivals were celebrated on vernal equinoxes. Easter traditions are closely related to the festival, ie., Easter rabbits and brightly colored Easter eggs. Easter rabbits are symbolic of fertility, and brightly colored Easter eggs are symbolic of spring's sunlight, as well as fertility, creation, and new life. Rabbits are known for the great capacity to produce in abundance, especially during Spring.
• Christians interpret and celebrate Easter through converging religious traditions. Emphasis is placed on the Jewish festival, Passover, an important feast celebrated for eight days, commerating the Israelites flight and freedom from Egyptian slavery. In Exodus 12, the Bible speaks of when the angel of death "passed over" the Israelites' dwellings, sparing their first-born. Passover is celebrated during the first month of the Hebrew year.Many early Christians were raised in the Hebrew tradition, but possessed Jewish origins. They regarded Easter as a new facet of the festival of Passover celebrating the advent of Jesus, the Messiah, as foretold by the prophets (see Luke 24:44-48). Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead at the feast of the Passover in Jerusalem.
• Controversial, Christians of Jewish and Christians of Gentile origin, differed on the day of Easter's observance. Western churches observe Easter on the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox of March 21. Eastern churches, who are closer to the birthplace of Christianity and have a stronger connection to older traditions, observe Easter according to the Passover festival's date.
• Easter occurs at the end of Lent. The Lenten season is 46 days of penitence in preparation for Easter. The six Sundays in Lent are not a part of Lent, however, are considered a commemoration of Easter Sunday. These Sundays are excluded from the Lenten fast.
• The last week of Lent is Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is representative of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Crowds laid palms at his feet.The Last Supper, held the evening before Christ's Crucifixion, is commerated on Holy Thursday. The anniversary of the Crucifixion of Jesus, the day he was crucified and died on the cross for our sins, is held on the Friday of Holy Week (Good Friday).
• Easter Sunday, the day of Christ's resurrection, is the culmination of Holy Week and Lent.
• Catholic Mass on Easter Sunday did not exist in the early church. Easter occurred the night before Sunday's dawn and was called Easter Vigil. Those who were baptized at the Easter Vigil wore white robes throughout Easter week, a symbol of their new life. Those baptized previously wore new clothes, symbolic of their share in the new life of Jesus Christ, an external profession of the Easter grace. Easter parades evolved from the Middle Ages in Europe. Donned in their new Easter clothes, people would take a long walk after Easter Mass, a procession preceded by a crucifix of the Easter Candle.

Christian Beliefs About Easter and Its Significance

• Christians celebrate Jesus' life and his resurrection through the observance of Easter.
• Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
• Jesus' Cleansing of the Temple
• Jesus Questioned after the Parable of the Marriage Feats
• The Last Passover, the Lord's Supper instituted
• Jesus Prays in the Garden of the Mount of Olives and an Angel from Heaven Appears
• Judas's Betrayal of Jesus
• Peter's Denial of Jesus
• The Trial of Jesus
• Jesus is Mocked
• Jesus' Crucifixion and Death
• Jesus' Resurrection
• The Ascension of Jesus Christ

Easter Traditions

• Easter is a holiday celebration for the whole family held every Spring. This year, Easter Sunday will be April 15, 2001. (See the dating of Easter).
• Passover, Lent, Holy Week, Good Friday, Easter Vigil
• In the past, colored Easter eggs were given as gifts and used in Easter-egg rolling contests. After being colored and etched with designs, Easter eggs were exchanged by romantic admirers and couples. This is similar to the traditon of exchanging valentines cards. In Medieval times they were given to servants, while in Germany, they were passed to children. Christians of the Near East adopted the Easter egg tradition, making it a religous symbol representative of the tomb from which Christ broke forth. Often colored red, the Easter eggs were symbolic of Christ's blood, which gave all believers a share in Jesus' new life.
• New Easter suits and Easter dresses.
• Easter lilies are a symbol of purity because of its delicate form and whiteness. White trumpet lilies bloom in the spring, around Easter.
• Lambs, a significant symbol of Jesus Christ, date back to the 7th Century, with the prayers for the blessings of lambs. The main feature of the Pope's Easter dinner was roast lamb.
• Butterflies are symbolic of Easter. Jesus emerged from the tomb the same person, glorified; butterflies emerge from cocoons as the same caterpillar in new form.

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  The History of Easter

  Christian Beliefs About Easter

  Easter Traditions and Customs

  Return to the Trumpet Magazine

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