EasterGan-Erdene Ch

What is Easter ?Easter is the most important festival in the Christian Calendar. It celebrates the resurrection from the dead of Jesus, three days after he was executed. The Easter story is at the heart of Christianity.

Easter SundayThe date of Easter Sunday varies from year to year because it is based on the lunar calendar. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon, on or after March 21st

Easter Sunday marks Jesus’ resurrection. After Jesus was crucified on the Friday ( now known as Good Friday), his body was taken down from the cross, and buried in a cave tomb. The tomb was guarded by Roman Soldiers and an enormous stone was put over the entrance, so that no-one could steal the body.

On the Sunday, Mary Magdalene, followed later by some of Jesus disciples visited the tomb and found that the stone had been moved, and that Jesus’ body had gone. Jesus himself was seen that day by Mary and the disciples, and for forty days afterwards by many people.

His followers realized that God had raised Jesus from the dead. Christians call this the Resurrection.

The week leading up to Easter is called Holy Week (Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday)

Easter CustomsSince its origins, Easter has been a time of celebration and feasting and many Traditional Easter games and customs developed, such as egg rolling, egg tapping and egg decorating.

Easter CustomsToday is Easter is commercially important, seeing wide sales of greeting cards and confectionery such as chocolate Easter eggs, marshmallow bunnies, Peeps, and jelly beans. Even many non-Christians celebrate these aspects of the holiday while eschewing the religious aspect.

Peeps

Easter Customs in America

Many Americans follow the tradition of coloring hard-boiled eggs and giving baskets of candy. The Easter Bunny is a popular legendary Easter gift-giving character analogous to Santa Claus. On Easter Monday, the President of the United States holds an annual Easter egg roll on the White House lawn for young children. New York City holds an annual Easter parade on Easter Sunday.

Easter Bunny

Why do we have Easter eggs at Easter ?

An egg is a symbol of new life. For Christians, Easter eggs are used as a symbol the resurrection of Jesus.

Christians believe that, through his resurrection, Jesus overcame death and sin and offers people the promise of eternal life if they follow his teachings.