Easter is the most important festival in the Christian calendar, celebrating Jesus' resurrection from the dead three days after his crucifixion. Easter Sunday is based on the lunar calendar and falls on the first Sunday after the full moon on or after March 21st. According to the Easter story, Jesus' followers found his tomb empty on Easter Sunday, and he appeared to them over the next 40 days, proving he had risen from the dead as he said he would. Easter traditions include egg decorating, egg rolling and eating chocolate Easter eggs, as well as the Easter Bunny bringing candy for children in America on Easter. Eggs are used as a symbol of new life to represent Jesus' resurrection and the promise of
2. What is Easter ?
Easter is the most important festival in the Christian
Calendar. It celebrates the resurrection from the dead of
Jesus, three days after he was executed. The Easter
story is at the heart of Christianity.
3. Easter Sunday
The date of Easter Sunday varies from year to year
because it is based on the lunar calendar. It is
celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon, on or
after March 21st
Easter Sunday marks Jesus’ resurrection. After Jesus
was crucified on the Friday ( now known as Good
Friday), his body was taken down from the cross, and
buried in a cave tomb. The tomb was guarded by Roman
Soldiers and an enormous stone was put over the
entrance, so that no-one could steal the body.
4. On the Sunday, Mary Magdalene, followed later by
some of Jesus disciples visited the tomb and found that
the stone had been moved, and that Jesus’ body had
gone. Jesus himself was seen that day by Mary and the
disciples, and for forty days afterwards by many
people.
5. His followers realized that God had raised Jesus from
the dead. Christians call this the Resurrection.
The week leading up to Easter is called Holy Week
(Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday)
6. Easter Customs
Since its origins, Easter has been a time of celebration
and feasting and many Traditional Easter games and
customs developed, such as egg rolling, egg tapping
and egg decorating.
7. Easter Customs
Today is Easter is commercially important, seeing wide
sales of greeting cards and confectionery such as
chocolate Easter eggs, marshmallow bunnies, Peeps,
and jelly beans. Even many non-Christians celebrate
these aspects of the holiday while eschewing the
religious aspect.
9. Easter Customs in America
Many Americans follow the tradition of coloring hard-
boiled eggs and giving baskets of candy. The Easter
Bunny is a popular legendary Easter gift-giving
character analogous to Santa Claus. On Easter
Monday, the President of the United States holds an
annual Easter egg roll on the White House lawn for
young children. New York City holds an annual Easter
parade on Easter Sunday.
14. Why do we have Easter eggs at
Easter ?
An egg is a symbol of new life. For Christians, Easter
eggs are used as a symbol the resurrection of Jesus.
Christians believe that, through his resurrection, Jesus
overcame death and sin and offers people the promise
of eternal life if they follow his teachings.
