Easter is the most important solemnity (just before Christmas) of the Church. It
is the first of the five cardinal feasts of the Catholic liturgical year. Easter
commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ laid down by the Bible, the third
day after his passion. The solemnity begins on Easter Sunday, which for
Catholics mark the end of fasting of Lent, and lasts for eight days (Easter
week, or week or radiant, or week of eight Sundays).
Many customs dating back to ancient times designed to accommodate the return of
spring attached themselves to Easter. The egg is the symbol of germination
occurs in early spring. Similarly, the hare is an ancient symbol which has
always represented fertility.
The custom of the Easter egg was found among Coptic Christians from the late
fifth century, it is perhaps in memory of ardent eggs (
ova ignita) with
which the martyrs were tortured or red egg laid by an imperial hen the day of
the birth of Alexander Severus in 208 BC. The tradition of offering eggs in
spring dates back to antiquity: the Persians, the Egyptians offered, as a lucky,
decorated hen eggs as renewal sign.
The rabbit once symbolizing fertility and renewal (like spring), it was in Upper
Germany where was born the tradition (Osterhase) before it spreads in the
Germanic countries. Subsequently, this tradition is exported to the United
States by German immigrants in the eighteenth century.
CONTENTS:
Easter
- Date history
- Religious celebrations
- - Catholic Church
- - Orthodox and Eastern Churches
- - Evangelical Church
- Popular festivals and traditions
- Easter eggs
- Easter eggs
- - Symbolic
- - History
- - - The red eggs
- - - Painted eggs, pissanka and precious eggs
- - - Chocolate eggs
- - Games and traditions
- - - Egg hunting
- - - Egg rolling
- - - Egg battles
- Ash Wednesday
- Paschal Triduum
- Easter Water
- - Picking the Easter Water
- - Properties of Easter Water
- - - Physical properties
- - - Spiritual or magical properties
- - Washing in Water Easter
- Paschal candle
- - Rite of fire at Easter
- - Using the paschal candle
- Easter Monday
- - Liturgical and religious significance
- - Folk customs for Easter Monday
- Easter Bunny
- - Origin
- - Alternatives
- Osterbrunnen
Easter food
- Pastiera
- - Origins
- - - Mythical origin
- - - Other origins
- - Tradition
- - Features
MultiMedia Publishing House Edition:
https://www.setthings.com/en/e-books/easter-celebration/