Happy Easter!
The history of Easter begins with the Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, on the third day after he was crucified on the cross. These origins date back to the beginning of Christianity. However, Easter is also said to be a combination of three traditions in one- Christian, Hebrew, and Pagan. According to St. Bebe, who was an old English historian in the 8th century, Easter comes from the name Eostre, who was the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring.
Lent is the time of fasting that leads up to the great feast on Easter Sunday. It is in honor of Jesus’ 40 day fasting period while he was in the wilderness. Ash Wednesday is the official start of Lent and ends on the evening masses on Holy Thursday. Those who observe the time of Lent are supposed to give up something, in order to practice denial, penance, and Christian growth. Fasting and prayer are also very important during this time.
Good Friday is the day the church sets aside to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is the Friday before Easter Sunday, and is considered a holy day by many religions of the world.
Today, the Easter holiday is practiced by both religious individuals and the non-religious. While it has deeply rooted religious aspects, Easter is also a time for the birth of springtime, as many people celebrate it. This is the time for Easter eggs, the Easter bunny, candy, chocolate, and more. Kids all around the world await the Easter Bunny, who fills their basket with candy and goodies on the morning of Easter Sunday.
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