NCC 600 - the neighbourhood that pray together, stay together: April 2009

Christianity and The Origins of Easter

Easter is the Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of the Christian Messiah, Jesus Christ. The most important festival in the Christian calendar, Easter is celebrated on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25, depending how Lunar calendar corresponds to the Gregorian calendar in that particular year. Since the date of Easter changes each year, so too do the other Lenten festivals that fix their dates according to Easter, such as Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday and Good Friday.
The story of Easter is one of persecution and rebirth, making it the central experience of the Christian belief system. On the Friday before Easter, Christians believe that Jesus was executed by crucifixion. His body is believed to have been removed from the cross and buried in a guarded cave, with a large boulder blocking the entrance.
Tradition continues that the following Sunday, Jesus' gravesite was visited by faithful women-Jesus' mother the Virgin Mary may have been among them-who discovered that the cave was empty. Later that day and for several days after, Jesus' followers sighted him and came to believe that Jesus had been risen from the dead by God.

Jesus' resurrection holds central importance in Christian liturgy, as the pinnacle expression of sin and redemption. Romans 4:25 explains that, "Jesus was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification."
Jesus' resurrection - his being "raised" - is understood as evidence that he, through his righteousness, can redeem not only himself in death, but also the entire Christian community in life. As Romans 5:18 says: "Just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men."
Furthermore, this watershed event has formed the Christian idea that humans must no longer live under the dominion of death or the power of sin. Again, Romans 6:9-11 teaches, "For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him?In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Jesus Christ."
Today, Easter is clearly a Christian holiday, with deep liturgical and traditional significance. However, scholars actually believe that the festival has its roots in a number of pre-Christian faiths, including Pagan and Jewish. For example, historians believe that the word Easter is derived from the Saxon name of the Pagan goddess of spring and fertility, Eastre. The lunar calendar month of April was dedicated to a celebration of Eastre, featuring rituals to mark the vernal equinox and welcome the fertility associated with springtime.
Many of these Pagan traditions have been incorporated into Christianity's celebration of Easter today. The Easter bunny and Easter eggs, for instance, are both Pagan symbols of fertility. Even the story of Jesus' resurrection is echoed in Pagan mythology. The Greek legend of Persephone, for example, tells of her return from the underworld. This myth was understood by ancient Greeks as a metaphor for the return of spring after the darkness of winter. The Phrygians similarly believed that their omnipotent deity hibernated during the winter solstice and was awoken in the spring by their musical festivals.
The traditions of Easter also have roots in the Jewish springtime holiday of Passover. The name Easter is reflected in the Hebrew word for Passover, or Pesach. In Europe, the word Pasch is synonymous with the name Easter.
Furthermore, Jesus' disciples were the first Christians, many of whom are thought to have been historically Jewish. Scholars believe, in fact, that the first Easter celebrations were likely understood as a new form of commemorating the coming of the Messiah, a key component of Passover liturgy.

Easter Eggs

Of all the symbols associated with Easter the egg, the symbol of fertility and new life, is the most identifiable. The customs and traditions of using eggs have been associated with Easter for centuries.
Originally Easter eggs were painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring and were used in Easter-egg rolling contests or given as gifts. After they were colored and etched with various designs the eggs were exchanged by lovers and romantic admirers, much the same as valentines. In medieval time eggs were traditionally given at Easter to the servants. In Germany eggs were given to children along with other Easter gifts.

Different cultures have developed their own ways
of decorating Easter eggs.
Crimson eggs, to honor the blood of Christ,
are exchanged in Greece.
In parts of Germany and Austria green eggs
are used on Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday).
Slavic peoples decorate their eggs
in special patterns of gold and silver.
Austrian artists design patterns
by fastening ferns and tiny plants around the eggs,
which are then boiled.
The plants are then removed revealing a striking white pattern.
The Poles and Ukrainians decorate eggs
with simple designs and colors.
A number of eggs are made in the
distinctive manner called pysanki (to design, to write).
Pysanki eggs are a masterpiece of skill and workmanship.
Melted beeswax is applied to the fresh white egg.
It is then dipped in successive baths of dye.
After each dip wax is painted over the area
where the preceding color is to remain.
Eventually a complex pattern of lines and
colors emerges into a work of art.
In Germany and other countries eggs used
for cooking where not broken,
but the contents were removed by piercing
the end of each egg with a needle and
blowing the contents into a bowl.
The hollow eggs were dyed and hung
from shrubs and trees during the Easter Week.
The Armenians would decorate hollow eggs
with pictures of Christ, the Virgin Mary,
and other religious designs.

Easter Story

General Introduction Easter is the celebration of Jesus' victory over death
and mankind's hope for eternal life.

The highlights of the Easter story include Jesus' execution (or crucifixion on the cross),
His burial and, most importantly, His rising from death (or resurrection).
The accounts of Jesus' trial and execution are described in detail in the historical records
of Jesus (Gospels).
Essentially, he was condemned by religious leaders objecting to Jesus' claim to be their "Messiah", and then sentenced to death by authorities of the Roman government.
Jesus was brutally tortured to death by nailing his hands and feet to an upright post
in the shape of a cross.
The account of Jesus' rising from death was also recorded in the historical records of Jesus (Gospels):
Three days after His death, a few women first found His tomb empty.
Then Jesus appeared in front of these women and His disciples,
talking and eating with them.
Out of doubts still, one disciple did not believe Jesus was alive again until
he actually touched Jesus' fatal wounds.
In the following forty days, hundreds of people witnessed this Jesus who had returned
from death until He ascended to Heaven.
Before His death, Jesus had promised eternal life to those who followed Him.
If the story ended at His death, Jesus would have been no more than a religious figure
with a finite life span.
But the fact the Jesus rose from death demonstrated
He has the power over death, and only through Him
can people have hope for eternal life.
Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).