Does anybody know the true meaning of Easter? Well, I didn't until I looked around google and read a few articles about it. This particular article on the meaning of easter was found at www.everythingeasier.com
The Meaning of Easter
by Kristen Machut
When you think of Easter, you probably think of the Easter Bunny, colored eggs and lots of candy... but to Christians around the world it is much, much more. Easter is the most important Christian holiday of the year.
Easter Day is the day Christians remember Jesus rising from the dead. After his brutal crucifixion, a large stone was rolled over his tomb. But shortly after his death when followers went back to honor Jesus, the stone had mysteriously been moved and only the cloth that wrapped Jesus' body was laying there. As the story goes, Jesus' body was no longer in the tomb and he had in fact risen from his death in order to save us all. An angel nearby this tomb told his followers of the miracle that had taken place.
The resurrection, as described in the Bible, means that at the very moment Jesus rose from the dead, was the very moment we would be given everlasting life. Christians would now receive new life after death. The Easter holiday celebrates this belief. Easter is therefore the last day celebrated during a 40 day Easter season.
The season begins with Lent, a 40-day period before Easter Sunday. During Lent, Christians prepare for Easter. Lent is considered a time for penance, a time to show sorrow for sins and to seek forgiveness.
One way many Christians show their sorrow is by fasting, which limits the kinds and amounts of food that are eaten. Christians may also give something up during this 40 week period as patronage to the suffering of Jesus. While not all Christians fast during Lent, those that do pattern their behavior after Jesus who prayed and fasted in the wilderness before his death on the cross.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and most churches hold specials services in the evening. At many of those services ashes are placed on the foreheads of worshipers to remind them to have a humble spirit. Lent continues until Holy Week, which is the final week of Lent and recalls the events leading up to Jesus' sacrifce and ultimate death, a death he freely accepted.
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, which celebrates the story of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, where people spread palm branches and clothing before him. Good Friday is the day Jesus died on the cross and many believe it happened between the hours of 12 noon and 3pm. Many churches hold services during this time to reflect on the last three hours of darkness while Jesus suffered on the cross.
On Easter Sunday Jesus' resurrection is celebrated. Outdoor Easter services sometimes take place at sunrise to celebrate Jesus' resurrection. Just as Jesus rose from the dead, Christians believe they too will rise from the dead and ascend into Heaven. It's important to note that Easter is not a time to dwell on death and sorrow, but rather the fact that Jesus did rise just as prophesized in the Holy Bible. This miracle of renewed life has given Christians hope, faith and love since they know Jesus died willingly in order to save the human race.
Easter is also closely associated with the season of Spring. The new plant life that appears in spring symbolizes the new life Christians gain because of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. Easter is also considered a day of "white" because newly baptized church members wear white clothes at Easter observances.
Now, on that note, I'm going to post up this week's Sunday school video here. Now personally, I think that Jesus Christ being portrayed this way is just wrong... but I'm posting it here because all too many bible freaks and Right-Wing "christians" tend to portray Jesus Christ THIS WAY to the world, although they like to preach to everyone that jesus is a god of love and mercy,the prince of peace, etc.
O.K.
Now, in conclusion, I'm posting my REAL sunday school video on the Jesus Resurrection, followed by a couple of easter day poems...
Easter Holiday
Easter holiday, is a celebration of the resurrection of Christ!
Jesus Christ, The Son of God, bled and died for us in a sacrifice.
This Spring day's celebrated, generally in the month of April.
All of the bright and pretty colors, of the Easter outfits with frills.
Women and children will wear their Easter bonnets.
In the Spring, you'll hear the various musical sonnets.
April will bring many rain showers.
That'll bring us various beautiful flowers.
One special flower for this day is the Easter Lily.
It's color is white, and yet snowy & milky.
The birds will sing their songs of praise.
As we begin to feel the warmth of the sun's rays.
As we say "Goodbye" to the winter's gloom,
The flowers and trees have already begun to bloom.
All of life's beauty, The Lord created, for us all to share.
Spring breezes begin to flow, sending fragrances through the air.
The winter's thawing will let the rivers, lakes, and streams rise and flow.
The beauty of the Earth will make us all feel aglow!
Farmers and gardeners will start to hoe.
And then they'll begin to sow.
On Sundays, we'll hear the various church bells ring.
Let's be grateful for the LORD, let's rejoice and sing.
If it wasn't for the Lord, we wouldn't have anything!
Meeting the Easter Bunny
by: Rowena Bennett
On Easter morn at early dawn
before the cocks were crowing
I met a bob-tail bunnykin
and asked where he was going.
"Tis in the house and out the house
a-tispy, tipsy-toeing,
Tis round the house
and 'bout the house a-lighlty I am going."
"But what is that of every hue
you carry in your basket?"
"Tis eggs of gold and eggs of blue;
I wonder that you ask it.
"Tis chocolate eggs and bonbon eggs
and eggs of red and gray,
For every child in every house
on bonny Easter day.
He perked his ears
and winked his eye and twitched his little nose;
He shook his tail -- what tail he had --
and stood up on his toes.
"I must be gone before the sun;
the east is growing gray;
Tis almost time for bells to chime."
-- So he hippety-hopped away.
HAPPY EASTER EVERYBODY!!!
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