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.
Decorating eggs is a fun pastime that kids and adults alike both enjoy. For more information on how to do this, go to Family Fun, Akidsheart, and Chiff. To learn how to make Easter chicks, visit All free crafts and Chevron Cars. To view or purchase Faberge eggs, go to Geocities to learn more.
The Easter Bunny is the most associated animal with Easter. To learn about the history of the Easter Bunny, read up at Easter Bunny and Wikipedia. Sheep are also associated with Easter, perhaps from the story told here at Joyful Heart. To make your own craft sheep, go to Family Fun.
Chocolate and jelly beans are perhaps the two most-sought after Easter candies. For the Top 10 Chocolate Bunnies for Easter, visit Gourmet Food. To send virtual chocolate to a friend or loved one, go to Virtual Chocolate. For jelly bean and other Easter candy facts, visit Virtual Chocolate. Finally, to send someone an Easter e-card, go to Easter ecards.
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