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April 2009: Digging deeper at Easter
What is it you most commonly associate with Easter? It is likely to be a deluge of chocolate eggs, bunnies and fluffy yellow chicks, rather than the Christian commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. A giveaway sign may be that religion plays a lesser part in many people’s lives than it once did, meaning Easter today is simply an opportunity to make lots of money from the sales of chocolate Easter eggs and gifts.
Delve into the history and the origins of the Christian Easter festival and you find a few surprises. For instance, Easter eggs do not owe their origins to Christianity, neither does the festival of Easter itself or the giving of Easter gifts.
The Christian ‘Easter’ falls near to the time of the Jewish festival of Passover, one of the most important festivals in the Jewish calendar. Passover is an eight day observance commemorating the exodus and freedom of the Israelites (Jews who were held as slaves) from Egypt during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II.
It was at Passover (or Easter) that Jesus went to Jerusalem for the last time before being crucified. To the astonishment of those who condemned him and put him to death, he only spent three days dead in the tomb before rising up and being seen very much alive by many people, including his disciples. These are the events most Christians associate with ‘Easter’; events that shouldn’t be lost or forgotten.
With plenty of chocolate eggs in the shops and Easter gifts filling the shelves, this is an excellent time for both giving and celebrating, but also reflecting on the incredible events behind the festival which make it an extra special time of year.
Useful Bible passage to look up: Mark ch 15 & 16
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