Easter is one of the most important holidays in the Christian religion. On this day, the faithful celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who defeated death and saved humanity from original sin.
This holiday does not have a fixed date like Christmas but, by Church decision, falls on the Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox. The day of Easter, therefore, depends on the moon and can be set between the months of March and April.
The term ‘Passover’ comes from the Hebrew word pesah, meaning ‘to pass over’.
Well before the advent of Jesus, in fact, the people of Israel had already been celebrating Easter for many centuries to commemorate one of the most important episodes recounted in the Old Testament (the part of the Bible that unites both Jews and Christians).
For the Catholic religion, on the other hand, Easter represents the moment when Jesus defeated Death and became the Saviour of humanity, freeing it from the Original Sin of Adam and Eve.
Christian Easter celebrates Jesus’ return to earthly life, an event that marks the defeat of Evil, the cancellation of Original Sin and the beginning of a new existence that will await all believers after Death.
The symbols of Easter and their meaning:
THE EGG
In many cultures, the egg is the universal symbol of life and birth. It is therefore not surprising that the Christian tradition has chosen this element to refer to the resurrection of Christ, who returns from the dead and brings back to life not only his body, but above all the souls of believers, which are freed from the sin committed at the dawn of time, when Adam and Eve plucked the forbidden fruit.
THE DOVE
The dove is also a legacy of Jewish tradition，it has been used over the centuries to symbolize Peace and the Holy Spirit.
THE RABBIT
Also the rabbit, this cute animal is expressly referred to by the Christian religion, where first the hare and then the white rabbit became symbols of prolificacy.
Easter week follows a precise pattern:
Thursday: remembrance of the Last Supper where Jesus told his disciples that he would shortly be betrayed and killed.
On this occasion Jesus washed the feet of his Apostles, as a sign of humility (an act that is celebrated in churches with the rite of the ‘Washing of the Feet’).
Friday: Passion and death on the Cross.
The faithful relive all the episodes that took place during the crucifixion.
Saturday: Mass and mourning for the death of Christ
Sunday: Easter and celebrations
Easter Monday or ‘Angel Monday’ celebrates the cherubic angel who announced the Resurrection of God before the tomb.
This holiday was not immediately recognized, but was added in post-war Italy to ‘lengthen’ the Easter celebrations.
Post time: Apr-10-2023