Easter is one of the most important holidays on the Christian calendar, yet it is often overshadowed by Christmas and other important dates. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, but while that is certainly important, Easter is the celebration of something that is arguably more meaningful.
What Is Easter?
Simply put, Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ after His crucifixion and death. As the story in the Gospels goes, Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate and rose from the dead three days later. The crucifixion was to atone for the sins of all of humanity, while His resurrection was to show His power over death. His death took away the sins of the world, and his resurrection was to show that He - along with all who believe in Him - would have everlasting life. That is one of the most important parts of the Christian faith, which is why many see Easter as such an important holiday.
Easter is observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. It shares this date with the celebration of the Saxon goddess Eastre. When early Christian missionaries converted the Saxon people to Christianity, they found that the celebration of Christ's resurrection coincided with the pagan festival, and the two traditions combined to become Easter Sunday.
For modern Christians, Easter continues to be a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There are non-Christian traditions associated with Easter, such as Easter egg hunts, gift baskets, and the Easter Bunny. It is first and foremost a religious holiday for many. Christians who celebrate Easter often do so during sunrise church services early on Easter morning, and they often decorate their homes and churches with Easter lilies, white flowers that represent the purity of Jesus and a reminder of the everlasting life that we now have due to His resurrection.
Although Easter rarely receives the same amount of attention as Christmas, it is still a very important Christian holiday that celebrates arguably the most important event of the Christian faith.
