Easter: Meaning and Symbols

If you have ever wondered about the meaning of Easter and the symbols associated with it, this article is sure to interest you.

For Christians, Easter is above all an opportunity to commemorate the resurrection of Christ. This is a particularly significant event, as the Christian faith is largely based on the way in which Jesus Christ conquered death. This holiday is celebrated every year, and always takes place on a Sunday.

The Easter holiday is always accompanied by several symbols, such as colored eggs or chocolate. But what do this holiday and the symbols that accompany it really mean?

In this article, you will discover:

• The meaning of the Easter holiday,
• The symbols around the Easter holiday.

Without further ado, let's get to the heart of the matter.

The meaning of the Easter holiday

Easter: what is it really about?

Easter is celebrated every year, but on a date that keeps changing. The celebrations always take place on the Sunday following the spring full moon. However, this period is subject to a slight shift each year. The spring equinox is set for March 21. That is why Easter falls on a date between March 22 and April 25. To avoid getting the date wrong, you have to pay attention every year. Unlike Christmas, which falls on December 25, Easter is a little more complex.

The Easter celebrations are preceded by a period of forty days known as “Lent”. Lent begins on the day after Shrove Tuesday (Ash Wednesday) and ends on Easter Sunday. It is a long time to remember the forty days that Jesus spent in the Judean desert. During Lent, believers may fast. In some religions, fasting is even an integral part of the celebration ritual. Catholics prefer to emphasize the aspect of deprivation. Rather than depriving themselves of food entirely, believers can, for example, deprive themselves of meat during this period. The most important thing is that they can feel the difficult times that Jesus had to face in the desert. If they wish, believers can also deprive themselves of the pleasant things they have the privilege of enjoying every day.

But Lent is not just about fasting and deprivation. It is also a time for sharing and prayer. Thus, the privations endured by believers should enable others to enjoy pleasant moments. In some communities, for example, all members must give alms to the poor during this period.

The week before Easter Sunday is called “Holy Week”. It begins on Palm Sunday, seven days before Easter Sunday. Thursday is undoubtedly the most memorable day of Holy Week. Jesus is said to have eaten his last meal on a Thursday. It was therefore the last time he was with all his apostles. According to the Bible, Holy Thursday refers to the “Last Supper”. As for Good Friday, it refers to the “Passion of Christ”, undoubtedly one of the most tragic stories. Jesus was crucified on this day.

Easter corresponds to the moment when Jesus was said to have been resurrected. In the Holy Scriptures, it is said that he came back to life three days later. This is why Easter always takes place on a Sunday. Moreover, it is also for this reason that masses in the great Christian churches always take place on Sundays.

Passover Pessah or the Jewish Passover

Passover is very different from Easter, even if the two events are more or less linked. If we refer to the etymological origins of the word “Passover”, it implies the idea of a transition. In Hebrew, the term “Passover” can be literally translated as “Pessah”. It is a Jewish holiday in honor of the liberation of the Jewish people in ancient Egypt. At that time, the Jews were slaves of the Egyptians. Moses, who was then under God's guidance, led them across the Red Sea to escape the soldiers who were chasing them. This story is documented in detail in the Bible. With a little research, you should have no trouble finding it.

The Jewish Passover is therefore a celebration in honor of this event. It has nothing to do with the Christian Passover, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Moreover, it is increasingly common to put an “s” at the end of the word “Passover” when referring to the Christian holiday. Although this rule is not yet well known, it should not be long.

What does Easter mean to Christians?

For Christian believers, Jesus is not only the son of God, but also the one and only path that leads to eternal life. He proved this to his followers by coming back from the dead. The Christian faith is largely based on this resurrection of Christ. Indeed, Jesus thus showed that death could be conquered.

Easter is therefore an opportunity to celebrate this good news. The fact that it is preceded by Lent and Holy Week makes it all the more phenomenal. For Christians, Easter is even more important than Christmas. For while Christmas is about the birth of Christ, Easter refers to the moment when he came back to life. Of course, the birth of Christ is not something to be minimized, but his resurrection is even more exceptional.

During the Easter holidays, churches are decorated with very bright colors. In general, white and gold are used because they evoke light. In addition to being reassuring, light refers to what is good. It is a way to overcome fear.

Symbols of the Easter holiday

The bell and Easter eggs

The bell and eggs are strong symbols of the Easter holiday. As the festivities approach, these symbols begin to invade our daily lives. We start to see them everywhere: on television, in supermarkets, in public places, etc.

In the collective imagination, it is the bell that is supposed to bring us the Easter eggs. Indeed, in advertising representations, the eggs are always found inside a bell. In some regions, tradition has it that lamb is eaten during the Easter festivities. This is why one can sometimes see a lamb with eggs.

Nowadays, it is common to see bells and eggs as Easter approaches. But do we ever ask ourselves about the origin of these traditions? Moreover, we might also wonder what connection these symbols have with the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In ancient times, it was customary for people to give each other eggs at the arrival of spring. Winters were quite harsh at that time, and people were always very eager to see spring again. That is why it was necessary to celebrate its return every year. The eggs had to be painted before being given to someone. This is probably where the tradition of Easter eggs comes from. This story does not seem to have any connection with the resurrection of Christ. However, don't forget that Jesus went through a series of difficult events before he conquered death. Winter and spring would thus be a kind of metaphor for this sequence of events.

But the tradition of eggs and bells could also come from the Middle Ages. At that time, the Church had forbidden the consumption of eggs during the forty days preceding Easter, in accordance with the spirit of Lent. The eggs had to be kept until Easter Sunday arrived. When the day came, you could indulge to your heart's content and eat as many eggs as you wanted.

Chocolate

Chocolate is also a symbol of the Easter holidays. As the festivities approach, chocolate manufacturers generally start to increase their production, and supermarket shelves begin to be flooded with it. They come in all shapes and sizes.

Traditionally, Easter chocolates are bell-shaped with eggs inside. But today, they come in every shape and form imaginable. Chocolates in the shape of rabbits, for example, have become very popular in recent decades. Nowadays, the Easter Bunny has even become an inseparable character of this holiday. If you are wondering about the origins of this tradition, it comes from Germany. In this country, the rabbit symbolizes spring, which is also the symbol of renewal and fertility. But in general, the symbols of Easter revolve around these concepts.

Discover other articles on Easter

Now you know what Easter really means. You know why it is celebrated on different dates every year. As for the symbols associated with these festivities, you now know their origins. Even if they come from different countries and cultures, the symbols of Easter all have more or less the same meaning.

If you would like to know more about Christian celebrations such as Easter, we invite you to read our other articles. We recommend our latest article on the meaning of the Assumption.