Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead and since it falls on a Sunday, it is sometimes referred to as resurrection Sunday. Easter is preceded by a forty day period of Lent consisting fasting, prayer and penance.
Easter is described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial after his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary in 30 AD.
The week before Easter is referred to as the Holy Week beginning Clean Monday, Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Of these, Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and death of Christ.
In Greek and Latin, the Christian celebration was and is still called Pascha. While Easter customs vary the world over, some common customs include Sunrise Service, decorating Easter eggs (symbols of empty tomb and also of new life and rebirth) and Easter bunnies. Today, more and more people gift decorative chocolate eggs in commemoration of Easter.
Author: #Sneha Sundareshan