Easter Symbols and Their Meaning
We would also like to share with you the origin behind some of the most popular Easter symbols and traditions. We hope they will add to the meaningfulness of your Easter celebration.
Today we think of many symbols when we contemplate Easter; below weve highlighted the meaning and tradition associated with a number of them.
<>The Easter Egg
In ancient India & Egypt, it was believed that the world began as one huge egg; when the egg split in two, the upper half of it became heaven, the lower half earth.
Ancient peoples connected the shape of the egg with the similar shape of a seed and a drop of rain; all were considered a sign of new life.
During the spring festival in ancient Persia and China, as well as Europe during the Middle ages, eggs were given as gifts.
As Christianity spread, the egg came to be seen as a symbol of the stone tomb from which Christ arose.
In Poland and Ukraine, eggs are given meaning by their decoration: roosters symbolize wishes that will come true; deer stand for good health; the sun represents good luck; flowers mean love.
From 1870 to 1928, Peter Faberge decorated eggs with gold, silver, and gems for the czars of Russia and kings of Europe. These eggs, which each cost thousands of dollars, are priceless today.
Easter Bunny
The origin of the Easter Bunny tradition is considered to have begun in Germany. The story goes that a poor woman enjoyed providing Easter treats for children. One year, her gift for the children was to hide brightly colored eggs in her garden. While the children searched for the eggs, a hare hopped past. The children believed the hare had left the eggs.
From this time on, German children would leave nests of leaves and sticks in their gardens for the “Easter Hare.” This custom traveled to the United States via German immigrants. Because rabbits are more abundant in the United States than hares, the Easter Hare was soon re-christened the Easter Rabbit. In time, the Easter Rabbit came to be called the Easter Bunny.
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Easter Clothes / Easter Parade
Early Christians chose Easter Sunday as the day in which new church members were baptized. After baptism, the new members would dress in new, white clothes to represent their joy. This tradition was passed down in the wearing of new clothing for Easter Sunday. In New York City, an Easter Sunday fashion parade is held on Fifth Avenue.
The Words for Easter
Early Christians often celebrated Easter at the same time as Passover, as Jesus’ crucifixion occurred during Passover. They called the holiday Pesach, which is the Hebrew name for Passover. In many countries, the name for Easter is still similar to this original name. (Pascua in Spain; Pasqua in Italy; Paaske in Norway, Paques in France.)
The English name “Easter” was chosen by early English Christians to sound similar to the spring celebration named in honor of Eostre, the goddess of spring. They felt that by choosing this name, it would be easier for non-Christians to feel comfortable with and embrace a new religion.
Candles
Early spring festivals included a bonfire. As Christianity spread, the spring bonfires came to represent Christ’s light coming into the world; bonfires came to be lit on Easter eve. Now, instead of a bonfire, the candle is used as a symbol of the light of Christ.
The Cross
At the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, the cross represented suffering and death. After Christ’s resurrection, Christians appropriated the cross as a sign of Jesus’ triumph over death.
Easter Treats
Hot Cross buns – on Good Friday, buns decorated with white frosting crosses are made as breakfast treats.
Palm Branches
When Jesus entered Jerusalem the week before his crucifixion, he was ushered into the city by the traditional greeting for royalty – by both the waving palm branches and the covering the streets with them. As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, he was also greeted by cries of “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Today, on Palm Sunday, believers wave palm branches and carpet the floor with them in remembrance of Christ’s triumphal entry.
Easter Lily
The Easter lily was brought to the US in 1882 from Bermuda. These plants with their fragrant, white blossoms often decorate church altars on Easter Sunday. They are regarded as a representative of Christ’s purity.
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter. On the Thursday before his crucifixion, Christ displayed his willingness to serve others by washing his disciples’ feet and serving them their Last Supper of bread and wine. As he did so, he told his disciples “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34). Today, Christians remember this day by washing one another’s feet and taking communion.
During the Middle Ages, Maundy Thursday was observed by the wearing of green and eating of only green foods. As a result, Maundy Thursday is still referred to as “Green Thursday” in many parts of Europe.
Good Friday
Good Friday is the Friday before Easter – the day on which Jesus was crucified. It is observed by Christians as a solemn day in which to contemplate Jesus’ suffering and death.
The Bible tells that from noon to three o’clock on that day, the sky became dark. Today, many churches hold a service from non until three o’clock, characterized by a quiet, dark atmosphere.
On a lighter note, farmers once believed that seeds planted on Good Friday would yield a good crop.
Easter Sunrise Service
In ancient times, the sun was worshiped as the source of life. On the first day of spring, people would gather to watch the sun – and the new life it was to bring – rise. As Christianity spread, Christians observed this tradition with a new message. The rising sun was considered a reminder of Christ’s resurrection.
Easter Sunday Church Service
Easter Sunday church services worldwide are characterized by Christians greeting one another with the two-fold declaration: “Christ is risen!” and “Christ is risen indeed!” In the United States, churches are decorated with beautiful flowers – including the Easter lily. Choirs often perform Handel’s Messiah during the service, and church members wear new clothing to symbolize the new life they have in Christ.
http://www.easter-Sunday.info/traditions.html