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Easter, the Resurrection
of Jesus Christ
Christians celebrate Easter to commemorate
the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after
his death by crucifixion. Easter is the oldest Christian
holiday and the most important day of the church
year.
On Good Friday, Jesus Christ was executed by crucifixion.
His body was taken down from the cross, and buried
in a cave. The tomb was guarded and an enormous
stone was put over the entrance, so that no-one
could steal the body.
On the next Sunday, some women visited the grave
and found that the stone had been moved, and that
the tomb was empty. Jesus Christ himself was seen
that day, and for days afterwards by many people.
His followers realized that God had raised Jesus
from the dead.
The word ‘Easter’
was derived from Eostre, the ancient Greek goddess
of spring. Eostre comes from the word ‘east’,
which means dawn. But most other languages follow
the Greek term used by the early Christians: pascha,
from the Hebrew pesach which means ‘passover’.
Easter is more than just one Sunday. It consists
of several other holy days, too. Forty days before
Easter is Ash Wednesday. This begins the season
of Lent, a 40-day (not counting
Sundays) period of fasting, which ends on
Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. The
week which lasts from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday
is known as Holy Week. Good Friday marks the death
of Jesus Christ, while Easter marks His resurrection
