Easter
Easter is one of the most important religious holidays of the Christian calendar, steeped in tradition and ritual developed over centuries. It also has its secular side: the familiar bonnets, bunnies and those irresistible foil-wrapped chocolate eggs nestled into beds of neon grass. With all of these distractions, it’s easy to see how the religious message of Easter can sometimes get crowded out of the picture. This Web Guide can help you rediscover the history, beliefs, symbolism and practice of Easter.
Expand All Guide SectionsWhat is Easter?
The sites below examine the meaning, the history and the traditions of Easter. While different ... read more »
Lent
The Easter season begins with Lent, a time for repentance and preparation that starts on Ash ... read more »
Holy Week
Holy Week is the final week of Lent, beginning on Palm Sunday and ending on Easter Sunday. Many ... read more »
Easter Sunday: Traditions and Symbols
After the somber and solemn Lenten season, Easter Sunday is a day teeming with energy and excitement. It is the day of Christ’s resurrection. Easter traditions are divided along secular and religious lines, but many of the traditional recreational activities actually have religious significance.
Dulcinea's Insight
- The Catholic site Inter Mirifica notes several regional Easter customs of past and present. In the Middle Ages, Christians across Europe would meet on hilltops to watch the sun rise on Easter morning. They rang bells, fired cannons, sang hymns and performed traditional Easter dances. A similar tradition still exists in Austria and among the Moravian Christians of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
- Orthodoxy and the World, a Russian Orthodox Web site, reprints an AP article reporting on the 2007 Easter celebration at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the site where many believe Jesus’ resurrection took place.
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Catholic Culture
presents and explains the ceremonial aspects of Easter Sunday. It also has a beautiful description of the Easter Vigil, a dramatic four-part service that includes the lighting of the Paschal candle. The service takes place on the evening of Holy Saturday, and serves as the beginning of the Easter celebration.
ChristianityToday.com
answers the question, “Where'd the Eggs and Bunnies Come From?” explaining the origins of the symbols traditionally associated with Easter.
Celebrating Easter with Your Children
The following Web sites offer a few tips for parents who wish to emphasize the spiritual meaning of ... read more »
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