WHAT IS EASTER, WHY CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE EASTER AND HOW JESUS CHRIST RAISED FROM THE DEAD

“Hallelujah for the Lord is raised”- a term that has signified the joy of believers and the wonder of a miracle. A joy and wonder that originated in the voices of Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, and still resonates every year in the voices of every believer who rejoice in the resurrection of the prince of peace. Along with the sacrifice of Jesus on Good Friday, the resurrection of Christ on Easter forms the heart of Christian philosophy and belief.

The miracle of Easter

The miracle of Easter bears its seeds in the moments of despair leading up to the crucifixion of Christ on Good Friday. Jesus celebrates the Passover feast where he readies himself as the sacrificial lamb for the feast of Passover. After his death on the cross, Jesus is laid to rest in a cave as per Jewish customs, embalmed in aloe and myrrh and wrapped in a clean linen shroud by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. A big stone is then rolled over the mouth of the tomb and they proceed to rest in accordance with the customs of Sabbath. On the first day of the week after Sabbath when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary comes to the tomb, they find the stone rolled and the body of Jesus missing. They rejoice remembering Jesus’ promise of returning and inform all is disciples. The disciples subsequently see Him as they are fishing in the Sea of Galilee. After advising them and promising them that He would return one day Jesus ascends to the heavens.

Customs and traditions

The word Easter is probably derived from the old English word referring to the month Eostre which translates into the Paschal month. This probably refers to the Passover time of Jewish customs, and Jesus’ referring himself to the sacrificial lamb pure and unblemished. It is a moveable date feast and the day is ascertained from a lunisolar calendar. It is generally celebrated as the first Sunday after the full moon on or after 25^{th march.}

The Easter festival often begins with a Vigil on the night of Saturday. This starts in darkness and ends in the singing of Gloria and Allelujia, with lights being brought out and church bell rung. Baptism and renewal of vows of baptism are common. This is followed by Mass. In many countries Easter eggs are given out along with other goodies baskets. Processions to celebrate are also brought out. In Philippines for example statues of Jesus and Mother Mary are taken out to signify the reunion of mother and son after Jesus’ resurrection.

Easter eggs

One of the traditions that have developed today is that of Easter eggs. The tradition dates back to Christians of Mesopotamia, who stained eggs red to signify the blood, shed by Jesus on the cross. The shell often is said to represent the tomb of Jesus, and his resurrection as the cracking of the hard shell. The eggs are traditionally revered as symbols of new life and rebirth. Various games and traditions have come to pass based round the Easter eggs across the world such as egg rolling, egg dance, pace egg plays. Ukraine has made Pysanky famous. Pysanky are Easter eggs made through a batik technique of dying using beeswax. Gifting pysanka symbolized gifting life. Pysanky made ina family would be used for various purposes such as gifting to the priest, gifting to children or god children, gifting by unmarried women to suitable men, honouring the departed in cemeteries, accompanying those who depart within the year to come, protection from fire and storms, and in the mangers and nests of animals and hens to encourage their foaling and egg laying.

A celebration of a promise

All in all Easter is a celebration of a life and promise. It is the celebration of the promise of deliverance made by Jesus through his blood and sealed by his resurrection that all who believed in Him and through Him in God would be delivered at the hour of justice. Easter is a celebration of that hope of forgiveness from the Lord for all who bear faith in Him through His son Jesus. Easter is a celebration of new life eternal and blessed in the name of Jesus resurrected from his tomb. Good Friday and Easter Sunday together seal the message of Jesus as the deliverer of man from the sins. Jesus who dies on the cross for the sins of man is then ascended to heaven on his resurrection. So also all man who will believe in God and seek refuge in Him through Jesus, will be absolved of all sins on Judgment Day, and find favor and place in the kingdom of heaven. Hallelujah for the savior of man is raised.

BY SOUMYASHREE CHATTERJEE