Easter 2023: Know The History, Significance And Traditions Of This Festival Celebrating Triumph Of Life

Easter is a celebration of the triumph of life over death. It is believed that Jesus was crucified and buried in a tomb on a Friday and that God raised him from the dead on a Sunday.

Representative Image | Easter itself doesn’t have a fixed date, like Christmas however, Easter falls between the end of March and the end of April. 

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Easter is an important Christian festival that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead three days after his crucifixion. It is the last day of the Holy Week which begins on the previous Sunday with Palm Sunday.

According to Christian beliefs, Easter is a celebration of the triumph of life over death. It is believed that Jesus was crucified and buried in a tomb on a Friday and that God raised him from the dead on a Sunday. So, Easter Sunday is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. 

Holy week

Christians observe the Holy Week from Palm Sunday which represents the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem riding on a donkey. It is followed by Maundy Thursday which is considered the day Jesus ate the Passover meal with his disciples. It is believed that the very next day, Friday Jesus was crucified. Good Friday is considered the day of mourning. On the third day, Sunday Jesus is believed to have resurrected from the dead. According to the Bible, when Mary Magdalene and some of Jesus's disciples visited they found it empty.

Easter itself doesn’t have a fixed date, like Christmas (December 25) however, Easter falls between the end of March and the end of April. 

Easter Traditions

The use of Easter eggs is common in both India and Western countries. Eggs are a symbol of new life and it represents the eternal life promised if one follows Jesus’s teachings. These days Easter eggs are made of sugar and chocolates. People also conduct an Easter egg hunt.

The Easter bunny is also part of the celebration in Western culture where it is a symbol of spring. It is considered that Easter Bunny traditions originated in Germany in the 16th Century.

In India, practicing Christians, either attend the midnight mass – which begins with the light of candles – or the mass in the morning. This is then followed by a feast with family and friends, people break their Lent fast on Easter.