History, celebration of Easter

By: Lucas Smith 

Easter is a holiday that is celebrated by many across the world. Some people celebrate the holiday religiously; others celebrate the holiday secularly, while others celebrate it as a combination of the two. Regardless of how it is celebrated, the holiday consists of many different traditions.

Christianity believes that Easter is the day that Jesus Christ rose from the dead after being crucified. 

According to history.com, “In the New Testament of the Bible, the event is said to have occurred three days after Jesus was crucified by the Romans and died in roughly 30 A.D.” Ever since that day, most Christians have celebrated Easter as the day their sins were forgiven. 

According to history.com, western Christianity follows the Gregorian calendar, and Easter always falls between March 22 and April 25. This year, Easter is on April 1. 

A lot of Christians celebrate Easter by going to church on Easter Sunday and learning about Jesus’ resurrection. Many celebrate the secular aspect of the holiday, too. 

“We wake up and my mom makes biscuits and gravy. After we eat, we open our Easter gift baskets and celebrate Jesus Christ,” said senior Laken Shaffer. 

A person does not have to be a Christian to enjoy Easter. A lot families participate in egg-hunts, the Easter Bunny, and spending time with family. 

The Easter Bunny is a large part of the Easter celebration. Many children look forward to getting an Easter Basket or some sort of present from the Easter Bunny. But, how did this tradition come about?

Also according to history.com, “the Easter bunny first arrived in America in the 1700s with German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania and transported their tradition of an egg-laying hare called ‘Osterhase’ or ‘Oschter Haws.’ Their children made nests in which this creature could lay its colored eggs.” Eventually, the custom spread across the United States, and the rabbit’s Easter morning deliveries expanded into chocolate and other types of candy. Overtime, decorated baskets replaced the nests.  

It can be theorized that egg hunts started because this creature reportedly lays eggs. Even Christian churches participate in egg hunts!

Regardless of how you celebrate Easter, it is a fun-filled jubilee in which you can spend time with family, open gifts from the Easter Bunny, go on egg hunts, reflect on your religious beliefs, or a combination of all!