The significance of Easter in Christianity
The significance of Easter in Christianity
Overview of the Christian celebration of Easter.
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Carlos Mora/Dreamstime.com
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- Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Bequest of George D. Pratt, 1935 (41.170.72)Learn about religion in the Middle Ages.
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Transcript
Christians observe the Easter celebration as an annual commemoration of Christ's resurrection. According to the New Testament, Christ's rising from the dead is symbolic of life prevailing over death.
Easter is celebrated on the first full moon after the beginning of spring. The Holy Week is the week leading up to Easter. It's a week of mourning that culminates in joyous celebration. The Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday. This is the day Jesus is said to have arrived in Jerusalem.
Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter Sunday, is the day on which Jesus is said to have sat down to the Last Supper with his 12 disciples. As such, Maundy Thursday signifies both a farewell and a new beginning.
According to religious tradition, the next day, Good Friday, is the day of Christ's death. This is the day Christ was tried, executed and buried in Jerusalem.
Holy Saturday is the day Christ was laid to rest. On this day Christians fast and pray in anticipation of Christ's resurrection.
The day after is Easter Sunday, when Christians celebrate Christ's rising from the dead. The resurrection is a keystone event in the Christian faith. It's the foundation of the belief in life after death. Easter Sunday is the holiest of holidays on the church calendar.
Easter is celebrated on the first full moon after the beginning of spring. The Holy Week is the week leading up to Easter. It's a week of mourning that culminates in joyous celebration. The Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday. This is the day Jesus is said to have arrived in Jerusalem.
Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter Sunday, is the day on which Jesus is said to have sat down to the Last Supper with his 12 disciples. As such, Maundy Thursday signifies both a farewell and a new beginning.
According to religious tradition, the next day, Good Friday, is the day of Christ's death. This is the day Christ was tried, executed and buried in Jerusalem.
Holy Saturday is the day Christ was laid to rest. On this day Christians fast and pray in anticipation of Christ's resurrection.
The day after is Easter Sunday, when Christians celebrate Christ's rising from the dead. The resurrection is a keystone event in the Christian faith. It's the foundation of the belief in life after death. Easter Sunday is the holiest of holidays on the church calendar.
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