Easter

What is Easter?
Easter is a Christian holiday celebrating the belief of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter Sunday is observed as the day Christ was resurrected. Prior to Easter, Christians observe what is known as ‘The Holy Week’. 

The Holy Week commences with the service of Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday literally means a Sunday Service where everybody is given a blessed palm leaf or a cross of palm leaves to commemorate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. 

Send this ecard to your loved ones and friends

The continuance of the Holy Week is observed on Thursday evening known as Maundy Thursday. Maundy Thursday is when Jesus ate his last supper with his disciples before he was betrayed. Jesus was betrayed and arrested at Gethsemane where he had gone to pray after the Last Supper. 

On Friday morning, Jesus was crucified, and he died in the afternoon. This special day is known to the world as Good Friday as it commemorates Christ's sufferings and his death. Jesus had told his disciples that he would be raised from the dead on the third day of his death. He was buried on Friday, the day of his death. 

Send this ecard to your loved ones and friends

On Sunday, which is the third day of Jesus’ death, his tomb was empty, signifying his resurrection.

When is Easter?
Easter usually falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the spring equinox.
Easter is the oldest among Christian holidays and the history began in the 2nd century. 

Why is it called Easter?
The English word “Easter” is derived from Eostre or Eostrae the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility. Easter also marks the arrival of spring.

Send this ecard to your loved ones and friends

Easter Traditions
In Roman Catholicism and Protestant denominations, the period leading to Easter is of special significance. Lent is the period of fasting, prayer and penitence. It begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts for 40 days, excluding Sundays. Many churches begin to observe Easter in a religious service known as the Easter vigil in the late hours of the day before Holy Saturday.

Easter Customs
Traditionally, roast lamb is served as Easter Sunday meal. It has its roots in early Passover observances. The lamb is seen as a representation of Jesus’ sacrifice and dying on the cross – Jesus being “the Lamb of God”. Hence Christians eat lamb to remember this sacrifice.

Send this ecard to your loved ones and friends

Easter Eggs
Sometimes we often wonder, what do eggs have anything to do with Easter? This is because eggs are viewed as a symbol of regeneration and more precisely, resurrection. Just as Jesus rose from the tomb, eggs symbolizes new life and rebirth. Traditionally, eggs were painted red to represent the blood of Jesus on the cross.

Today, Easter eggs are decorated with bright colours or sometimes dyed. Colourful Easter eggs in a basket are very commonly seen during Easter. Also, children will participate in Easter egg “hunts”, hunting for hidden decorated eggs! Fun! 

Now, fun for the adults, why not start selecting FaveKad’s colourful and meaningful Easter ecards and send them on their way to your loved ones and friends. Happy Easter!