Everything Easter
Easter is the special time of year when
families and friends gather together to celebrate the
resurrection of Christ. Easter Day is celebrated on Sunday. Easter Sunday is the day Christ rose from the dead. Christians refer to Good Friday, the Friday before Easter Sunday, as the day Christ was crucified. The date of Easter Sunday is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. While Easter is generally considered a Christian holiday, religions and cultures all over the world celebrate their own versions of Easter.
There are many traditions that come with the Easter holiday. One of the most celebrated Easter traditions is that of the Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny is a mythical rabbit that visits children on the night before Easter Sunday, leaving baskets full of colored eggs, sweets, and chocolates. The Easter Bunny tradition is similar to the figure of Santa Clause. Traditions say the reason that rabbits and hares are used as a symbol of Easter, is because they represent the most fertile animals. Spring, being the beginning of a new phase of life, is thought to be the fertile season of Earth.
The Easter Bunny is most noted for the Easter eggs and Easter baskets he brings. Easter eggs are colorfully painted and dyed eggs. The tradition of dying Easter eggs has been passed down in families from generation to generation. Legends say the Easter Bunny would hide his brightly painted Easter eggs for good children to find on Easter morning. Easter eggs are different in every culture and country. Over time, Easter egg hunts became a standard tradition. Families would hide Easter eggs all over the house and outside for children to find. Today, large communities set up Easter egg hunts for entire towns to enjoy.
Easter is a time when many families come together to celebrate life and happiness. Many families celebrate with a traditional Easter meal on Sunday after church. Traditional Easter Sunday meals consist of hot cross buns. Hot cross buns are sweet little pastries that have many spices in them. On top, there is usually frosting in the shape of a cross - hence the name, hot cross buns. These little buns date back many centuries. It is believed these pastries were made as mini cakes in celebration of spring and the resurrection of Christ. Ham is another food that is traditionally eaten on Easter. Another traditional Easter food is Easter bread. This Easter bread runs deep in family traditions in Ukraine and Italy. A simple bread recipe containing an egg covered with a cross, or bread molded into a cross, such as this bread, symbolizes the union of lives and fertility.
Easter is a holiday rich in tradition. There are many Easter recipes and Easter religious practices you can share with your family. Share the gift of life, celebrate life’s triumph over death, and start Easter traditions with your family today.
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