EASTER HOLIDAYEASTER HOLIDAY

HISTORYHISTORY Easter is the greatest Christian Easter is the greatest Christian

holiday of the year. On Easter day holiday of the year. On Easter day people celebrate the resurrection of people celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus, the Son of God.

The Holy Bible says that two The Holy Bible says that two days after Jesus died, his tomb was days after Jesus died, his tomb was found empty. Soon after, he had a found empty. Soon after, he had a range of appearances in front of his range of appearances in front of his disciples. disciples.

The Christians believe that the The Christians believe that the resurrection of Jesus means that they resurrection of Jesus means that they can have a new life after death. This can have a new life after death. This belief is celebrated during Easter. belief is celebrated during Easter.

Christian symbols - Christian symbols - ”The Cross””The Cross”

The cross is the symbol of God´s The cross is the symbol of God´s love for the men and the symbol of love for the men and the symbol of Jesus being sacrificed for the Jesus being sacrificed for the salvation of mankind.salvation of mankind.

The cross was declared to be a The cross was declared to be a symbol of Christianity by the symbol of Christianity by the Emperor Constantine within the Emperor Constantine within the Council of Nicaea, in year 325 after Council of Nicaea, in year 325 after Christ.Christ.

““The LambThe Lamb”” The lamb was sacrificed by the The lamb was sacrificed by the

JJews in the Temple from Jerusalem ews in the Temple from Jerusalem for their sins to be forgiven. Jesus is for their sins to be forgiven. Jesus is called “God´s Lamb” because He called “God´s Lamb” because He sacrificed Himself for the salvation sacrificed Himself for the salvation of the world; it is the ultimate and of the world; it is the ultimate and perfect sacrifice.perfect sacrifice.

According to the traditions, in According to the traditions, in CChristian families mutton is served hristian families mutton is served in Easter days. The lamb symbolizes in Easter days. The lamb symbolizes our Savior Jesus Christ, who our Savior Jesus Christ, who sacrificed himself to take away the sacrificed himself to take away the sins of the world and died on the sins of the world and died on the cross like an innocent lamb.cross like an innocent lamb.

““ Iepuraşul”Iepuraşul”

The Easter bunny is not a modern The Easter bunny is not a modern invention. It has its origins in invention. It has its origins in ancient times; it is one of the oldest ancient times; it is one of the oldest symbols of the spring. The Indo-symbols of the spring. The Indo-European mythology considered the European mythology considered the hare to be a sacred animal. In hare to be a sacred animal. In Germany, the goddess of the spring - Germany, the goddess of the spring - Ostara - was celebrated during her Ostara - was celebrated during her season, was always accompanied by season, was always accompanied by a hare. She was venerated according a hare. She was venerated according to this symbol. In Germany, children to this symbol. In Germany, children know that the Easter bunny brings know that the Easter bunny brings them eggs during Easter days, if them eggs during Easter days, if they have a good behavior. The they have a good behavior. The Easter bunny was mentioned for the Easter bunny was mentioned for the first time in Germany in the 1500s. first time in Germany in the 1500s.

““Ouăle roşii”Ouăle roşii” Eggs are an obvious symbol of Eggs are an obvious symbol of

renaissance. The tradition of egg renaissance. The tradition of egg painting during Easter precedes the painting during Easter precedes the Christian holiday of Easter. Certain Christian holiday of Easter. Certain mythologies (from Egypt, India, mythologies (from Egypt, India, China) say that the world initially China) say that the world initially started from an egg. The connection started from an egg. The connection with Easter holiday is very clear: the with Easter holiday is very clear: the eggs symbolize the birth, a new life eggs symbolize the birth, a new life acquired by Christians after the acquired by Christians after the death of Jesus. The tradition of egg death of Jesus. The tradition of egg painting has its origins in the painting has its origins in the Egyptian and Persian festivals for Egyptian and Persian festivals for celebrating the spring. In the old celebrating the spring. In the old days the eggs were painted only days the eggs were painted only with natural dyes, which were with natural dyes, which were obtained from plants: red cabbage, obtained from plants: red cabbage, onion, flower petals.onion, flower petals.

““Lumina de Înviere”Lumina de Înviere” On Easter vigil large groups of On Easter vigil large groups of

people come to church. Each people come to church. Each believer has in his hand a candle, believer has in his hand a candle, which he is going to kindle from the which he is going to kindle from the light brought by the priest from the light brought by the priest from the table of the Holy Altar. This candle table of the Holy Altar. This candle is the symbol of Resurrection, of the is the symbol of Resurrection, of the life´s victory over death and of the life´s victory over death and of the light of Christ over the darkness of light of Christ over the darkness of sin. After the service many keep an sin. After the service many keep an unburnunburntt rest of the candle and light it rest of the candle and light it during the year when serious during the year when serious problems occur in the house. After problems occur in the house. After the service the priest shares with the service the priest shares with everybody the Holy Passover, this everybody the Holy Passover, this means holy bread, sprinkled with means holy bread, sprinkled with wine and holy water. wine and holy water.

““White lilies”White lilies”

The lilies are a recent The lilies are a recent accessory to the celebration of the accessory to the celebration of the Easter. In timEaster. In time, a religious legend e, a religious legend about the lilies came about: in the about the lilies came about: in the evening of the Holy Thursday, when evening of the Holy Thursday, when our Lord was in the Garden of our Lord was in the Garden of Gethsemane all the flowers bowed Gethsemane all the flowers bowed their head in sorrow because of the their head in sorrow because of the temptations of Jesus Christ - except temptations of Jesus Christ - except for the proud, imposing and for the proud, imposing and beautiful lily. In the end, after seeing beautiful lily. In the end, after seeing the humility and sacrifice of our the humility and sacrifice of our Lord, the lily bowed its head in Lord, the lily bowed its head in shame and remained in the same shame and remained in the same position also in our days.position also in our days.

Customs and traditions Customs and traditions –”Easter Lent”–”Easter Lent”

In the Orthodox Church people In the Orthodox Church people prepare themselves to welcome prepare themselves to welcome Easter during the “Easter Lent” also Easter during the “Easter Lent” also called the “Main fasting season”, called the “Main fasting season”, which lasts for 48 days. Officially which lasts for 48 days. Officially the Lent season starts after the the Lent season starts after the “Sunday of forgiveness”, on that day “Sunday of forgiveness”, on that day of Monday, 7 weeks previous to of Monday, 7 weeks previous to Easter. Easter.

The last week of the Easter Lent is The last week of the Easter Lent is called “Passion Week” and starts called “Passion Week” and starts with the Palm Sunday, the Sunday in with the Palm Sunday, the Sunday in which people commemorate the which people commemorate the entry of Jesus in Jerusalem. “The entry of Jesus in Jerusalem. “The Passion week” commemorates the Passion week” commemorates the arrest of Jesus, His crucifiction and arrest of Jesus, His crucifiction and death. During this last week many death. During this last week many churches have services in every churches have services in every evening, called in Romanian evening, called in Romanian “Denie”. From Monday to Thursday “Denie”. From Monday to Thursday people commemorate the Last people commemorate the Last Supper, the arrest and enprisonment Supper, the arrest and enprisonment of Jesus. The Day of Thursday is of Jesus. The Day of Thursday is called “Holy Thursday”. On Friday, called “Holy Thursday”. On Friday, called “Holy Friday” people called “Holy Friday” people commemorate the crucifiction and commemorate the crucifiction and death of Jesus on the cross. During death of Jesus on the cross. During this day people use to have a “black this day people use to have a “black Lent”, this means they do not eat Lent”, this means they do not eat anything.anything.

““Easter Greetings”Easter Greetings” Traditional Easter greetings of the Traditional Easter greetings of the

Orthodox Christians are “Jesus has Orthodox Christians are “Jesus has risen” and the answer to this is risen” and the answer to this is “Indeed he has”. Such greetings are “Indeed he has”. Such greetings are expressed for 40 days after Easter expressed for 40 days after Easter until “Ascension day” of Christ until “Ascension day” of Christ comes. At the same time, such comes. At the same time, such greetings are said when people break greetings are said when people break eggs according to the tradition. eggs according to the tradition. During the week before Easter the During the week before Easter the tradition says that eggs ought to be tradition says that eggs ought to be painted on Holy Thursday after the painted on Holy Thursday after the church service only in red colour, church service only in red colour, because red signifies the blood of because red signifies the blood of Jesus, which was shed for the Jesus, which was shed for the salvation of humanity.salvation of humanity.

““Easter bread”Easter bread”

The ladies of the house bake the The ladies of the house bake the Easter bread only a single time Easter bread only a single time during the year. This bread has a during the year. This bread has a round shabe because it is believed round shabe because it is believed that the diapers of Christ were also that the diapers of Christ were also round. In the middle of the Easter round. In the middle of the Easter bred there is a cross and the bread is bred there is a cross and the bread is decorated on the side with braided decorated on the side with braided dough.dough.

When do people When do people celebrate Eastercelebrate Easter

The majority of Christians celebrate Easter in the first Sunday after the first The majority of Christians celebrate Easter in the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. Easter is a holiday with no fixed date full moon following the spring equinox. Easter is a holiday with no fixed date but it is always celebrated by all churces between March 22nd and Aprilie 25th, but it is always celebrated by all churces between March 22nd and Aprilie 25th, except for the Orthodox Church. In the Orthodox Church Easter can be except for the Orthodox Church. In the Orthodox Church Easter can be celebrated even after this date, because this Church uses also other factors for the celebrated even after this date, because this Church uses also other factors for the calculation of such data, like the concern that the Christian Easter shall not calculation of such data, like the concern that the Christian Easter shall not coincide with the Jewish Easter. Anyway Easter always is in spring, after the coincide with the Jewish Easter. Anyway Easter always is in spring, after the Spring Equinox, when the whole nature awakens to life. The Spring Equinox is Spring Equinox, when the whole nature awakens to life. The Spring Equinox is that moment in which the day and the night have the same duration. that moment in which the day and the night have the same duration.