Christian Traditions:
The Easter Holiday

Questions about Easter Traditions

The modern Easter celebration is surrounded with traditions that have developed through the centuries Some of the more well know traditions include ash wednesday, lent, sunrise service, easter eggs, and the last supper. Lesser known traditions include white lilies, easter bonfires, and hot cross buns. While Christianity generally tries to connect Easter with the Resurrection of Messiah, most of the world turns this time into a large commercial venture. Although all these things seem pleasant on the outside, a serious look at where these traditions came from and what they truly represent is called for. Much of the time, the origins lay in the worship of false deities and have absolutely nothing to do with Scripture or how the One Most High truly wants to be worshipped.

What is the Easter Celebration

Easter Defined

Easter is the Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Christ and the biggest event on the liturgical calendar. It is a movable holy day that falls between late march and late april by most groups but can be as late as late may in a few denominations. The Easter celebration is strongly connected with the time of the Last Supper of Messiah and His disciples which most Christians think to be the Passover Meal.

The Name

The English word Easter comes from the Old English word Eastre which comes from germanic languages and refers to the direction east. This word refers to the mother-goddess of Gemanic paganism who is associated with the dawn. This goddess was celebrated at the spring equinox. It may also date back to Ishtar or Astarte which would be the Canaanite fertility goddess. Many say it sis from Eastre, the Teutonic goddess of rising light of day and spring.

Retail and Entertainment Definition

The Easter Season has become a commercially important time. As a time of celbration and feasting, there are many foods to be found such as chocolate easter eggs and bunnies, marshmallow bunnies and peeps, as well as jelly beans. It has also become common among non-believers to search for the easter eggs which are decorated and hidden for children to find. These eggs and other treats can also be hidden and delivered by the Easter Bunny in an Easter Basket.

When is Easter Celebrated

Christian Church

There are many different dates on the calendar which are used for easter. Which is chosen depends upon the denomination involved. However, all of them use the Gregorian Calendar and most pay attention to the vernal equinox.

United Church of Christ

Within the UCC, easter is celebrated on the first sunday after the first full moon on or after March 21st. This means it can be as early as March 21st or as late as April 25th.

How is Easter Celebrated

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is a special worship service in which ashes are put on the forhead. The ashes are to remind us of our sin and the shortness of our lives on earth. Ash wednesday is also the first day of Lent.

Lent

Lent is a season of prayer and reflection before easter. The word 'Lent' comes from the Old English word 'leniter' which means 'lengthening' and is appearantly directly related to the increasing daylight hours in the springtime. Lent typically begins on Ash Wednesday and continues 40 days until easter. This count does not include sndays because fasting and sorrow are not considered appropriate on that day.

Passion Week

Passion week, also known as 'holy week', is the last week of lent and includes the entry of Messiah into Jerusalem on a donkey through His crucifixion.

Palm Sunday

Palm sunday is the first day of passion week. This day remembers the Messiah's entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Palms are often carried or used for decorations to remind us of the palm branches waved and layed down by the crowds as Messiah rode into Jerusalem. It is sometimes called 'passion sunday' because it is the sunday before the suffering of Messiah on the cross.

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday, also known as 'holy thursday', is the thursday before easter and the time of the memorial for the Last Supper. The word 'maundy' comes from the Latin word 'mandatum' and means 'commandment'. The commandment sometimes referred to is to love one another. Communion is celebrated on this day because it was on this day Messiah told us to do it.

Good Friday

Good friday is the friday before easter and is the time of Messiah's death on the cross. The name 'good friday' may have came from the phrase 'God's Friday'. Often a crown of thorns is used to remind people of the cruelty shown to Messiah as he suffered. Sometimes a special service called 'Tenebrae' is done. 'Tenebrae means 'shadows' in Latin. During this service the lights in the sanctuary are slowly put out until it is completely dark and reminds us of the darkening of the world on the day Messiah died.

Todd Elder is a believer in the Messiah who wants to help people understand Scripture and know the message of Salvation. For more information from the Christian Traditions series, please visit my website http://www.exploringsalvation.info and look under 'Scripture'.

Additional Information

Christian Traditions: The Easter Holiday

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