Easter memories. As a child I remember dying hard-boiled eggs in vinegar and food coloring. My fingertips were different colors as a result. Then I added stickers to each egg, drew on them with crayons gently, or some other creative method to embellish the egg. When they were done I placed them in a basket of shining, shredded plastic fake grass. That's all I remember about that, except getting to eat them evidently. I also remember finding a basket on our doorstep left by the Easter bunny full of chocolate Easter bunnies to be eaten and a basket of fake plastic eggs full of candies.
I remember something called "peeps" that were marshmallow candies in the shape of rabbits and baby chickens. I remember baking cakes with my mom for Easter. The cakes started out looking like an ordinary round layer cake decorated with shredded coconut that had been shaken in a jar of green food coloring to make the coconut look like grass. Then I sprinkled it all over the cake and put jelly beans on the top to look like eggs. Later on the cakes became more creative as they were cut into patterns and then re-assembled with toothpicks to look like a rabbit. Each year we tried this the cake came out different.
I remember my mother and I going shopping for new Easter dresses and shoes. We would go to church together somewhere for certain. I loved it. Later on church on Easter became plays and skits that I would hope would entice my parents to come to church. I would like to believe my father came but I can only remember his strong aversion to church. He only went for weddings and funerals. I don't think he went to my church plays, musical, or readings. At least I only remember the hope and then disappointment so I don't remember him coming.
As a teebager and young adult I remember going to Easter sunrise services to understand clearly the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Now that I am 53, living in the year 2009, I realize also how important it is when it comes to religion. No other faith celebrates the resurrection of their god they believe in and follow his teachings. That is because the man they worship, no matter how great a man he was, is still buried in a tomb or grave. The entire faith of Christianity is based on the power of the resurrection. Jesus is alive and is coming again for his church as he promised.
Easter celebrates life because it is spring time and everything is starting to arise, however the most important seed to arise is the one that was buried as a sacrificial body for the sin of mankind...planted in death, comes again in life. That is why the symbolism of baptism, buried with Christ and coming up out of the water, we have arisen with Christ by faith, a new creation. The seed of Abraham has arisen and taken his rightful place seated at the right hand of the Father. Jesus awaits until he is given the word to go and get his church and bring them to the Father. Jesus Christ is the way, the only way to the Father. "In my Father's home [heaven] there are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I [Jesus] am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me" (John 14:2-3, NIV).
I have my hope in the resurrection of Christ, for without that the Bible is a lie. The witnesses that saw the empty grave, saw him walk through walls, saw him appear in the middle of a room, saw the holes in his hands and feet, saw him changed, saw him stand on the mount of Olives and raise into mid air ascending upward toward heaven. These accounts were recorded for all history and then there is the empty tomb in Jerusalem. I don't have to go there to see it to believe it and that is why it is faith. I feel sorry for those who choose nothing to believe in or who are following a dead god and religion that will never understand grace.
This Easter is a very real passion arising in me because I believe with all my heart that Jesus is coming back and he is coming very soon.
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Easter Feast and Resurrection Sunday
“Resurrected Sunday”...It was on this day that Jesus was resurrected, or raised, after dying three days earlier.
The term ‘Easter’ came into use as this occurred during spring and coincided with prevailing pagan festivals. ‘Easter’ an ancient Teutonic goddess, whose festival usually held during the spring equinox. In France, Esther is called ‘Paques’ which is derived from ‘Pascha’, meaning “Passover” and in relation to the Jewish Passover. The Passover is also known as the Festival of Unleavened Bread and marks how God delivered the Jews from Egyptian bondage. It was while the Jews were celebrating this festival that Jesus was crucified under Roman Law and Jewish synagogue verdict allegation leveled him as a Blasphemer.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of the believers. It is the victorious day which Christian Faith is base on. As Christianity spread to many places, the Joyous celebrating imbibed local customs that were practiced on festive occasions. This is how ‘Easter’ came about. As the Resurrection coincided with spring festivals, and as spring signifies new life, and as Jesus is new life. It is not surprising that today different countries have their own traditional ways of celebrating Easter.
In Brazil, Easter is celebrated with huge gala carnivals. The participants dress in gay colored costumes. The playing of instruments, singing, shouting and dancing adds to the joy. One of the customs of the carnival is for citizens to pour scented water on the passers by from the balconies above.
In Holland, Egg Neiking is one of the more popular ancient customs. Hard-boiled eggs are stuck against each other; the one whose egg is broken first loses, and he forfeits his egg to the winner. Immediately, the winner is pitted against another counterpart with another egg. The last remaining egg in this game wins all the others. The elders participate in egg-eating contest.
In France, provincials in native costumes hold gay folk dances in the street. Natives of Southern France mingle with visitors from foreign lands to make this flower festival a period of beauty. A colorful event of this fete is the procession in which gaily dressed girls from all the provinces take part.
In Jerusalem, the most dramatic of all ceremonies is the miracle of the ‘Holy Fire’. In the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, containing the tomb of Christ, patriarchs of eastern sects light the holy fire. From this flame swift runners light torches, and race away to their respective sects. Men and women fight to light their own candles from the torches.
Eastern Eggs: Symbolically, the egg has been used in ancient Easter rites to represent the spring season, and symbolizes the revival of the fertility of the earth and of the secret of life.
Easter Bunny: The Easter bunny originated in Germany and is symbolic of prolific reproduction of life.
Easter-Lily: The Easter-Lily reveals the assurance of ever lasting life. It is a symbol of purity as it breathes its sweet fragrance in the air; it breathes also the story of resurrection to all mankind.
We have seen that there are so many different customs and traditions unique to different countries. Many of them have become so much a part of our lives that we take them as accepted facts. Even the term ‘Easter’ is man made. However, the central truth is the truth and will never change in this ‘Easter’ let us reflect and concentrate on this Eternal fact that Jesus is the word made flesh and His victory is our victory.
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