In Australia, Easter is kind of a big deal. A majority of the country is reportedly Christian, and the holiday marks the end of a period of fasting. So not only does it give people a chance to eat what they want again, but it also honours an important story in the Christian tradition.
Around this time, people also start wondering what to know about Easter to plan Easter holidays, Easter presents and family catch-ups.
Keep reading below to learn more about the holiday and why people celebrate it.
When is Easter? It Changes Every Year
Easter is a rare western holiday that changes every year. Most of the time, people celebrate holidays on specific days. But people celebrate Easter based on the lunar cycle and many other historical factors.
This year, Easter Sunday lands on April 17 for most people. That day is far later than most people are used to. They usually celebrate it in early April.
But this year, the first full moon after the spring equinox happens to be that late.
That doesn't mean any of the traditional celebrations will change. On the contrary, many families join together for a traditional celebration after a long and challenging year.
Here's What to Know About Easter
The story of Easter and the holiday itself is one of the most important aspects of Christian faiths. But, to fully understand it, you need to understand the political turmoil and miracle surrounding Jesus Christ's crucifixion. In those days, Rome was the dominant nation in the world.
An emperor ran it, and the emperor delegated many responsibilities to leaders across the empire's lands. In those days, a man named Pontius Pilate ruled over the lands of Judea, where Jesus was preaching at the time. By then, Jesus had started proclaiming himself the king of heaven.
Rome had a policy that anyone who called themselves kings would face death. The logic of the policy was that anyone who called themselves king did not respect the emperor's power and, therefore, the empire itself. They were automatically enemies of the state.
Judas, one of Jesus' disciples, betrayed him and told Roman authorities what he was saying in private. As a result, Pontius Pilate ordered Jesus to be killed. However, some experts say Pilate wanted him dead because he inspired too many oppressed people, causing trouble in the land.
The holiday celebrates Jesus' living on despite being nailed to a cross. In Christian tradition, his spirit lives on, and Easter is meant to be when people celebrate that Rome could not kill him.
Easter Celebrates the Core of Christianity
Easter celebrates the impossible happening. It is meant to celebrate life after death, and followers say it is a day meant to remind people that Jesus lives. The all-powerful Roman state could not kill him, according to the faith.
At the core, Easter is a celebration of life and all the beauty that it has to offer. It is a time to spend with friends and family, enjoying the bonds people share.
Why Are There So Many Eggs For Easter?
Many people don't realise this, but eggs are an ancient and cherished symbol in many cultures. In many pagan groups, eggs symbolise life and the coming of a bright new future. In Christian tradition, Easter eggs are also meant to represent Jesus emerging from his tomb after rising from the dead.
Some more modern stories also help show why Easter eggs became so popular. For example, in the 1700s, German immigrants who settled in America brought their traditions of the “Osterhase." It's German for a hare that lays eggs.
That tradition later evolved into the Easter bunny, who brings eggs in a basket instead of laying them. Baskets themselves also started to have some special significance for the holiday.
Here's Some Information About Easter Gifts
Many early cultures also considered Eastertime a special period when life flourished all over the land. Crops began to grow, and people had plenty to eat. They could fill baskets with food and give them to neighbours.
So, the tradition of giving people Easter baskets was born — stemming from when people looked forward to the spring for its abundance. Now, it's a time to celebrate abundance in other ways.
Many people fill Easter baskets with chocolate and candy. Sometimes they give cards loaded with money, while other families exchange high-value gifts like new phones and computers. Many people looking for Easter basket gift ideas also pick up premade baskets loaded with treats.
Never Skip the Traditional Easter Dinner
Eastertime is also marked by a feast between friends and families, a tradition stemming directly from Medieval times. When the church was still developing, communities worldwide depended on it for food and guidance. The church was what organised people to follow kings and queens.
As part of those efforts, they routinely helped organise special celebrations. One of those celebrations was the Easter feast, where hamlets and communities would gather to partake in eating and drinking together!
The church may not be as prominent as it was back then, but its traditions remain. Christian families still gather on Easter to celebrate together with ham, eggs, bread, and sweets. It's a time to have fun, and people should never miss out on it.
The History of Easter is Long
If you're wondering when Easter is, you're not alone. Tons of people forget since it changes every year and the holiday is not as prominent as it once was. But there is still plenty of information about Easter celebrations that people share.
They share the story of the crucifixion and give each other Easter baskets. Typically, Easter activities include hunting for eggs in the family backyard. Meanwhile, people catch up on each other's lives and enjoy spending time with each other, without really knowing what the holiday is about.
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