Meaning of Easter
It is interesting to know that the name "Easter" is associated with the goddess of old times called Eastre. The Anglo-Saxons believed she was the goddess of their favorite season and revered her as the Great Mother Goddess. As for the Christianity Easter is the most significant event in the religious calendar.
The holiday was established to honor the resurrection of Christ ( rising of him from death three days after he had been killed on the cross). During two hundred years people marked the resurrection every Sunday. But then this tradition altered somehow, it became a great holiday celebrated once a year.
It happened after Christ had been buried in a small cave and the exit to his grave was closed by a large rock. Three days later His followers came back to honor Him. They discovered that the rock wasn't in its place, there remained only a cloth that had covered Jesus' body.
But Jesus wasn't in the cave. Everybody believed he had risen from dead. An angel who appeared near the cave told that to the people. The bible says the resurrection signifies that the moment when Christ left his grave was the moment everybody was given an opportunity of the eternal life.
Before the celebration there is Lent which starts on Ash Wednesday and continues forty days. It is the period when people try to think over their life, realize what they did wrong and wanted to be forgiven. It is believed to be a time for redemption.
Fast is one of the manners to achieve redemption. Products that could be eaten are somehow limited. And there are men who choose something important for them and try to give it up in order to feel bad. During Lent there take place some particular services and people put ashes on their heads to remember it is necessary to be humble in spirit.
Holy Week is the name of the last period of Lent. It starts with Palm Sunday and marks the description of the events before Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, His sacrifice and His death. Good Friday is the last day of Holy Week.
Good Friday is a holiday that marks the death of Jesus on the cross. The last three hours of His suffering on the cross continued from twelve noon to about three o'clock in the afternoon. There are special services in churches the people to remember those three hours of dark.
Easter Sunday is the last day of the festivities. The early morning is the time of some services to mark the resurrection. The principal postulate of Christianity is that people will follow the Christ will rise from death and go up into Heaven. So it isn't a sad event, but a merry holiday as everybody is sure the Christ didn't die, as it is described in Holy Bible.
Christians have found hope, faith, and love in this wonder of new life. Some traditions not directly connected with the religious basis of the festival became the integral part of the vent. For instance, rabbits and eggs are pagan tokens that are widely known to represent fecundity. The egg is a token of gladness as it marks the appearance of new life.