Easter: A Celebration of Unity and Tradition
Easter is a universal holiday with personal meanings for everyone, and the celebrations we partake in complement those meanings in various ways. Whether it’s Easter mass, Easter vacation, or the Easter egg hunt, the holiday is a time for celebration—or, for some, a time to simply survive another family dinner without a major brawl.
Naturally, children dressed in their new Easter attire eagerly anticipate a two-day sugar rush, with the highlight of the holiday being the Easter egg hunt. The Easter Bunny I knew came in the middle of the night, hiding our hand-crafted Easter eggs, bringing candy, and placing it throughout the house. We would also find a couple of gifts left for us. His presence was evident by the neatly wrapped packages waiting for us in my grandmother’s home, which of course, we couldn’t wait to open.
My grandmother had nine grandchildren, and as we ransacked her house in search of goodies and that one special Easter egg we had decorated ourselves, we were blissfully unaware of the deeper significance of the holiday.
The True Meaning Behind Easter Celebrations
From a Christian perspective, Easter is the holiest of holidays, celebrating the resurrection of Christ. For many others, it marks the arrival of spring—a time for new beginnings and fertility. We were joyously celebrating, unaware of the true meaning behind it all.
As with most holidays, Easter comes with both universal and family-specific traditions. Many people blend these two types of traditions to make the holiday special. The Easter egg, a simple and logical symbol of all things new, has been hidden for children for centuries.
The word “Easter” likely originates from the name of a spirit of fertility and rebirth, Eostre, who was either a god or goddess of Pagan origin. People celebrated her every year as winter passed, marking the power of light over darkness. Daylight stretched longer than night, new life began to emerge, and babies were born to replace loved ones lost during the harsh winter. Eostre herself descended into the underworld for three days, with differing theories as to why—some say it was an obligation, others believe she went to ensure no innocents were trapped, and some speculate she was undergoing a rebirth of her own.
A Growing Divide in Easter Celebrations
Today, Christians and others celebrate Easter on the same day, though the meaning behind it varies. Christians and Catholics may tune in to the papal address at the Vatican, while those with Pagan leanings celebrate the arrival of spring. This shared celebration should represent unity among diverse traditions. However, as research and information become more accessible, this unity has often splintered into intolerance rather than a warm embrace.
As historians uncover more about the origins of our beliefs, a growing number of devout Christians are rejecting the cultural and traditional aspects of Easter—such as the Easter egg, the Easter bunny, and other celebrations rooted in Easter’s historical past. Some believe these elements, with Pagan origins, were created by Satan himself.
Easter: A Time for Unity and Joy
Easter has always been—and hopefully will always be—a time of joyful celebration, regardless of how one chooses to observe it. The gleaming smiles on children’s faces, the meals shared with family members we only see on holidays, and the special ambiance that fills the air when the holiday arrives—all contribute to a sense of unity. Whether a family is welcoming the relief of spring or honoring Easter Mass, Easter should be a time of togetherness.
Nearly every country in the world celebrates Easter in their own unique way, with their own traditions. Some of these traditions we share, while others are entirely unique. From egg-cracking games to the customary chocolate bunny, to piñatas filled with firecrackers, Easter brings forth a variety of celebrations, making it one of the largest festivals of the year.
Easter, much like Christmas, has the potential to bring out the best in people. Whether in the spirit of Christ or in celebration of the new light of spring, Easter can touch us all on a deep and spiritual level, offering us a chance to shed our “darkness” and embrace our “light.”
The light of Christ or the light of birth—each individual around the world has the opportunity to share in this rare and unique celebration that unites us all, regardless of our religious beliefs.
