Easter
Christianity is the religion of people who believe in the one and only God, Jesus Christ. These people are said to be Christians. Christianity is found to be the greatest Religion among all the religions of the world. Christians believe that the Earth and everything in it have been made by God. They also believed that God loved the world and he gave his only begotten son to the world. They believe that Jesus sacrificed his life for the sake of redeeming sinners. They also believe that he was crucified on the cross and raised from death on the third day.
Jesus christ
Jesus Christ was the Messiah. He was born to sacrifice his life for all mankind. Jesus was the son of God, by whom he was sent to the world. He was born as a Jew. He was born in Bethlehem in a manger. Mary was his mother, who conceived Him through the Holy Spirit and gave birth to Jesus Christ. In his early age, Jesus helped his father Joseph, who was a carpenter. At the age of thirty, he started to teach the word of God to the people. Many people, hearing his parables started following him wherever he went. Jesus appointed twelve men as his disciples. Some of them were fishermen and few were tax collectors. They went along with Jesus everywhere. Jesus performed miracles among the believers. He made the deaf hear, the blind see, the sick became well and he also raised some people from the dead. Jesus loved all the people and gave new life to many people by his teachings. He gave peace to the sinners and cast out the devils from people who were possessed.
Easter story
Jesus traveled all over and spread the word of God and healed people in all ways. People started to follow him as he traveled and they started believing that he is the Messiah. This made the temple priests and the leaders of the Roman government angry and they wanted to kill Jesus. One of his disciples, named Judas, was bribed by the leader to betray Jesus and he was paid thirty silver coins for this. One day, Jesus went with a few of his disciples for praying in the garden. He asked them to be awake and pray. When Jesus came back, he saw them sleeping and awoke them. At that time, Judas came and kissed Jesus on his cheek and betrayed him.
The soldiers, who were hiding behind the bushes came and arrested Jesus. They took him in front of the King. After the trial, he was nailed the cross. Jesus was crucified on the cross and was buried in a cave. Jesus died on a Friday and on the third day he was resurrected. Nearly five hundred people around the place saw him rise alive from the cave. This had happened according to the scriptures. The day of resurrection is celebrated by the Christians as Easter.
Easter preparation
Lent is a spiritual preparation period before Easter. It involves the practice of fasting and praying. This custom was started by certain groups of Christians as a period of forty days, resembling the days spent by Jesus in the desert. The Roman Catholics observe nearly 6 ½ weeks as their lent days. Ash Wednesday is said to be the beginning of the lent.
Before Easter Sunday, that week is treated as the Holy Week. One week before His execution, Jesus was welcomed by the people of Jerusalem. He was invited by a lot of people, holding the palms and spread cloths for him to walk on it. This act is recalled and celebrated as Palm Sunday before the Easter Sunday. Holy Thursday is celebrated in remembrance of the Last Supper, when Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the garden and arrested.
Good Friday is the day that Jesus died on the cross. The meaning of the word Good here means ‘lost’ by the Christians in the early stage and others feel that the humans, who believe in him, are blessed. Holy Saturday is the day of ending the lent as well as the Holy Week.
Easter Sunday is the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many people were blessed with the Holy Spirit after he rose from the dead. He appeared to his disciples and his mother. He asked them to spread the news of everything that happened and share their views with all the people. The tradition of baptism is still taking place in the churches of God in order to enter the Kingdom of God.
Easter tradition
Easter Eggs are the symbol of Ostara, the Norse Goddess. It indicate the fertility and of re-birth of humanity, by the ancient Persians and Egyptians. During the spring festival they color the eggs as a custom. These eggs are colored and also made with various stuffs like chocolate and decorated during the Easter festival. Easter lilies are also the pagans’ customs indicating the holy life of Jesus. It represents the reproductive organ and was considered to be the phallic symbol. Easter sunrise mass is the custom from the olden days. Every family attends the service early in the morning, welcoming the sun of God.
Easter Candles is also one of the traditional aspects of the Christians. They light them in the church on the eve of Easter, indicating the resurrection of the son of God. Easter cakes and Easter candies are enjoyed by kids during Easter season. Easter cakes are made in different shapes. They are made in the shape of lamb, calf and rabbit. The calf and the lamb denote Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to cleanse the sins of all mankind. The traditions of the Saxons are denoted by the rabbit and it is also the symbol of their Goddess Eastre.
Children love Easter Candies. These Easter candies are prepared by parents at home and they are sometimes bought from the shops also. Calvary cross scenes are imprinted on almost all Easter candies. There are also many types of cookies like dream bar Easter cookies, Easter apricot cookies, Easter ginger bread cookies etc. Easter therefore is a celebration of the Lord Jesus rising up from the dead on the third day. This is celebrated all over the world with pomp and much festivity.
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