Tim lawsonEaster: A brief overview
March 31st 2010 16:09
With Easter fast approaching, I thought now would be a good time to take a look at what Easter means to Australians today.
Easter is the most significant annual religious event of the Christian calendar. It commemorates the resurrection, or return to life, of Jesus Christ following his death by crucifixion.
Christian scripture holds that on Good Friday Jesus was tried and executed by crucifixion. He was buried by Joseph of Arimathea in his own personal tomb: a tomb guarded and sealed with an enormous stone. On the following Sunday, a group of Jesus’ women followers visited the grave and found the tomb was empty. Jesus was seen that day, and for days afterwards, by many groups of people; Jesus’ followers rejoiced upon realising that God had raised Jesus from the dead.
Easter Sunday, otherwise known as Resurrection Sunday or Resurrection Day, according to the description on the Australian Government Culture Portal website “Celebrates the promise of life in the face of death. Easter celebrations also reflect on peace and forgiveness which has come out of aggression. It is also a time for thinking about suffering, injustice and hardship. During Good Friday services Christians meditate on Jesus’ suffering and on his words spoken from the cross: 'Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.' ”
Easter does not have a fixed date. It is referred to as a ‘moveable feast’. Easter falls on the Sunday after the ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after the 21st of March; the date of Easter therefore varies between March 22 and April 25. The date for Easter this year falls on the 4th of April.
Traditionally, the celebration of Easter has indeed been a celebration of the resurrection of Christ. Over time the celebration has developed beyond the church and in some ways beyond even Christianity itself.
Elements of Easter have merged with other traditions and the Australian modern Easter celebration includes many secular practices as well. Hot crossed buns, small sweet buns adorned with the cross of Christ, are eaten around Easter weekend; Easter eggs have long been associated with new life and are eaten on Easter Sunday: it is customary for children to believe in the Easter Bunny as the agent who delivers the eggs – the bunny representing new life, a tradition believed to have emerged in Germany in the 16th century. Australia, along with many other countries, celebrates Easter enthusiastically each year.
The tradition has been criticised for its gradual departure from a religious commemoration and for its commercialisation.
Easter is the most significant annual religious event of the Christian calendar. It commemorates the resurrection, or return to life, of Jesus Christ following his death by crucifixion.
Christian scripture holds that on Good Friday Jesus was tried and executed by crucifixion. He was buried by Joseph of Arimathea in his own personal tomb: a tomb guarded and sealed with an enormous stone. On the following Sunday, a group of Jesus’ women followers visited the grave and found the tomb was empty. Jesus was seen that day, and for days afterwards, by many groups of people; Jesus’ followers rejoiced upon realising that God had raised Jesus from the dead.
Easter Sunday, otherwise known as Resurrection Sunday or Resurrection Day, according to the description on the Australian Government Culture Portal website “Celebrates the promise of life in the face of death. Easter celebrations also reflect on peace and forgiveness which has come out of aggression. It is also a time for thinking about suffering, injustice and hardship. During Good Friday services Christians meditate on Jesus’ suffering and on his words spoken from the cross: 'Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.' ”
Easter does not have a fixed date. It is referred to as a ‘moveable feast’. Easter falls on the Sunday after the ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after the 21st of March; the date of Easter therefore varies between March 22 and April 25. The date for Easter this year falls on the 4th of April.
Traditionally, the celebration of Easter has indeed been a celebration of the resurrection of Christ. Over time the celebration has developed beyond the church and in some ways beyond even Christianity itself.
Elements of Easter have merged with other traditions and the Australian modern Easter celebration includes many secular practices as well. Hot crossed buns, small sweet buns adorned with the cross of Christ, are eaten around Easter weekend; Easter eggs have long been associated with new life and are eaten on Easter Sunday: it is customary for children to believe in the Easter Bunny as the agent who delivers the eggs – the bunny representing new life, a tradition believed to have emerged in Germany in the 16th century. Australia, along with many other countries, celebrates Easter enthusiastically each year.
The tradition has been criticised for its gradual departure from a religious commemoration and for its commercialisation.
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