Easter: Meaning and Symbols

If you have ever wondered about the meaning of Easter and the symbols surrounding it, this article is likely to interest you.

For Christian believers, Easter is primarily an occasion to commemorate the resurrection of Christ. This is a particularly significant event because the Christian faith is largely based on the way in which Jesus Christ overcame death. This feast is celebrated every year, and it always falls on a Sunday.

Easter is always accompanied by several symbols, such as colored eggs or chocolate. But what do this holiday and the symbols that accompany it really mean?

In this article, you will discover:

• The meaning of Easter,
• The symbols surrounding the Easter holiday.

Without further ado, let's get to the heart of the matter.

The meaning of Easter

Easter: What is it really about?

Easter is celebrated every year , but on a date that keeps changing. In fact, the celebrations always take place on the Sunday following the full moon of spring. However, this period is slightly shifted each year. The spring equinox is set for March 21. This is why Easter falls on a date between March 22 and April 25. To avoid getting the date wrong, you have to pay attention each year. Unlike Christmas, which takes place every December 25, Easter is a slightly more complex celebration.

The Easter holidays are preceded by a forty-day period called "Lent." Lent begins the day after Shrove Tuesday (Ash Wednesday) and ends on Easter Sunday . It is a long time to remember the forty days that Jesus spent in the Judean desert. During Lent , believers can fast. In some religions, fasting is even an integral part of the ritual of the celebration. Among Catholics, the emphasis is placed on the aspect of deprivation. Rather than depriving themselves of food entirely, believers can, for example, deprive themselves of meat during this period. The most important thing is that they can feel the difficult times that Jesus had to face in the desert. If they wish, the believer can also deprive themselves of the pleasant things that they are privileged to enjoy every day.

But Lent is not limited to fasting and deprivation. It is also a time of sharing and prayer. Thus, the deprivations made by believers should allow other people to experience pleasant moments. In some communities, for example, all members must give alms to the poor during this period.

The week before Easter Sunday is called "Holy Week." It begins on Palm Sunday , seven days before Easter Sunday. Thursday is probably the most memorable day of Holy Week. In fact, Jesus is said to have had his last meal on a Thursday. It was therefore the last time he was with all his apostles. If we refer to the Bible, Holy Thursday refers to "The Last Supper." As for Good Friday, it refers to the "Passion of Christ," probably one of the most tragic stories. In fact, Jesus is said to have been crucified on that day.

Easter corresponds to the time when Jesus was resurrected . In the Holy Scriptures, it is said that he came back to life three days later. This is why Easter always takes place on a Sunday . Moreover, this is also why the masses of the large Christian churches always take place on Sundays.

Passover Pesach or Jewish Passover

The Jewish Passover is very different from the Christian Passover , although the two events are more or less related. If we refer to the etymological origins of the word "Passover", it implies an idea of ​​passage. In Hebrew, the term "Passover" can be literally translated as "Pesach". It is a Jewish holiday in honor of the liberation of the Jewish people in ancient Egypt. At that time, the Jews were slaves of the Egyptians. Moses, who was then under the direction of God, led them across the Red Sea to escape the soldiers who were chasing them. This story is supported in detail in the Bible. With a little research, you should have no trouble finding it.

The Jewish Passover is therefore a celebration in honor of this event. It has nothing to do with the Christian Passover, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ . Furthermore, it is increasingly common to put an "s" at the end of the word "Passover" when we want to talk about the Christian holiday. Even if this rule is not yet very well known, it should not be long.

What does Easter mean to Christians?

For Christian believers, Jesus is not only the son of God, but he is also the one and only way to eternal life. He proved this to his followers by rising from the dead. The Christian faith is largely based on this resurrection of Christ. Indeed, Jesus thus showed that death could be conquered.

Easter is therefore an opportunity to celebrate this good news. The fact that it is preceded by Lent and Holy Week makes it all the more phenomenal. For Christians, Easter is even more important than Christmas . Because if Christmas is limited to the birth of Christ, Easter refers to the moment when he came back to life. Certainly, the birth of Christ is not something to be minimized, but his resurrection is much more exceptional.

During Easter, churches are decorated with very bright colors. In general, white and gold are used, because they evoke light. In addition to being reassuring, light refers to what is good. It is a way to overcome fear.

Symbols surrounding the Easter holiday

The Easter Bell and Eggs

The bell and eggs are strong symbols of the Easter holiday . When the festivities approach, these shapes begin to invade our daily lives. Indeed, we start to see them everywhere: on television, in supermarkets, in public places, etc.

In the collective imagination, it is the bell that is supposed to bring us Easter eggs . Indeed, in advertising representations, the eggs are always inside a bell. In some regions, tradition dictates that lamb is eaten during Easter festivities. This is why we can sometimes see a lamb with the eggs .

Nowadays, seeing bells and eggs around Easter is a common occurrence. But we rarely ask ourselves about the origin of these traditions ? Moreover, we can also wonder what the connection is between these symbols and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In ancient times, it was customary for people to give each other eggs when spring arrived. The winters were quite harsh at that time, and people were always eager to see spring again. That is why it was necessary to celebrate its return every year. The eggs had to be painted first before being given to someone. This is probably where the tradition of Easter eggs comes from. This story does not seem to have any connection with the resurrection of Christ . However, keep in mind that Jesus went through a series of difficult events before he conquered death. Winter and spring would thus be a kind of metaphor for this series of events.

But the tradition of eggs and bells could also come from the Middle Ages. At that time, the Church had forbidden the consumption of eggs during the forty days preceding Easter, in accordance with the spirit of Lent. The eggs had to be kept until Easter Sunday. When the day came, one could indulge oneself to one's heart's content, and one could eat as many eggs as one wanted.

Chocolate

Chocolate is also a symbol of Easter . As the holiday approaches, chocolate manufacturers usually start to increase their production, and supermarket shelves start to be filled with them. They come in all sizes and shapes.

Traditionally, Easter chocolates are shaped like bells with eggs inside. But today, you can find them in any shape you can imagine. Rabbit-shaped chocolates , for example, have become very popular in recent decades. Nowadays, the Easter bunny has even become an inseparable character of this holiday. If you are wondering about the origins of this tradition, you should know that it comes from Germany. In this country, the rabbit symbolizes spring, which is also the symbol of renewal and fertility. But generally speaking, the symbols of the Easter holiday revolve around these concepts.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by At the Center of Prayer 🙏🏼 (@croix_chretiennes_com)

Discover other articles about Easter

Now you know what Easter really means. You know why it is celebrated on different dates every year. As for the symbols surrounding these festivities , you now know their origins. Even though they come from different countries and cultures, Easter symbols all have more or less the same meaning.

If you would like to know more about Christian celebrations, such as Easter, we invite you to come and consult our other articles. For this purpose, we recommend our latest article which talks about the meaning of the assumption .