You know that Easter 2024 celebrations are quickly approaching as spring arrives each year. It’s a time to celebrate spring, and pastel colours, spend time with family, and ideally forget about the winter blues. Furthermore, even though most of us have grown up seeing or cuddling with the Easter Bunny at a nearby mall and we are all accustomed to seeing the omnipresent chocolates resting on store shelves months in advance, many people may wonder how this holiday came to be. After all, what does Easter 2024 mean? When is Easter 2024, by the way?
Meaning of Resurrection Sunday: Easter 2024
Celebrated as “Resurrection Sunday,” Easter honours Jesus’s bodily resurrection following His crucifixion. This event is particularly significant to Christians because, by accepting and believing in Jesus’ death and resurrection, they understand that their faith—rather than their deeds or works—is what grants them entry into Heaven and an eternal relationship with Jesus after death.
Past of Easter 2024
Easter 2024 honours the event of Jesus Christ’s resurrection. This is the final day of Holy Week, which consists of many days, each having a distinct meaning. Among them are:
- Handheld Sunday: celebrating the day when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem
- Holy Thursday: the Last Supper is remembered, and feet are washed
- Good Friday: a day to remember the crucifixion and death of Jesus
- Easter Sunday: celebrating Jesus’ resurrection
Every one of the four officially recognised Gospels contains a narrative of the Passion or the last part of Jesus’ life. The narratives in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are comparable, but the Gospel of John is different. The scripture claims that after declaring himself to be the Son of God, Jesus was taken into custody by the Roman government and was betrayed by Judas Iscariot. Jesus foretold that something would occur at the Last Supper.
Pontius Pilate, the Roman ruler of Judea, then placed Jesus on trial and executed him. Following were the Stations of the Cross events, which finally resulted in Jesus’s crucifixion. Next, Jesus was laid to rest in a tomb. And Easter Sunday, the last day, found Jesus’ tomb empty. According to the Bible, he was resurrected from the grave.
Significance of Easter 2024
Easter is observed in remembrance of Jesus Christ’s sufferings. Many Christians will attend church services and pray in observance as a consequence. Easter eggs and other holiday customs have their roots in Christian culture.
The Julian calendar, which differs from the Gregorian (Western) calendar, is still used by many Christians. As a result, a lot of Christians who use the Julian calendar celebrate Easter one week later and refer to it as “Orthodox Easter.” This historically religious feast happens on the treasured weekend that starts with “Good Friday,” and it is a component of a larger Christian celebration combining Lent and “Holy Week.” The church celebrates Easter to remember Jesus’ death and resurrection and the implications for those who choose to follow Him.
But Easter baskets, eggs, hot cross buns, bunnies, and candy, candy, candy are also connected with the holiday for both religious and non-religious people! On Easter morning, some kids have to search the home for their hidden Easter baskets as they wake up. Many families have outdoor Easter egg hunts and use dye to paint the hard-boiled eggshells.
It’s also customary to wear a vibrant Easter dress on this day. In actuality, the vibrant Easter eggs you may paint with your family are representations of rebirth and new life. According to NBC Chicago, eggs were dyed crimson by prehistoric Christian communities in Mesopotamia to symbolise the blood of Christ that was spilt at the cross. The eggs represent the empty tomb as well.
Regarding the Easter Bunny, its history is not inherently Christian. It’s uncertain where the anthropomorphic rabbit first appeared. However, according to Smithsonian Magazine, the hare has been associated with rebirth since ancient times. Similar to Santa Claus throughout the Christmas season, German Lutherans celebrate Easter with an Easter hare. The History Channel notes that the rabbit, also known as “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws,” would give presents and candies to deserving kids the night before Easter.
Easter Bunny’s significance
Rabbits are associated with the notion of fertility (also known as new life), even if the Easter Bunny’s precise meaning is unknown. Furthermore, according to several accounts, German immigrants brought the Easter Bunny custom to America in the 1700s. It is believed that kids would build nests for the rabbit to deposit its colourful eggs in and place carrots out for it.
India’s Easter Celebrations
According to a poll, Christians make up barely 3% of India’s total population. Nonetheless, there is much excitement on this day. Christian communities celebrate this holy occasion with music and dance events in locations like Goa and Mumbai.
Since several states have declared Good Friday to be a Gazetted holiday, most individuals use this opportunity to take a weekend trip.
India’s Top Locations for Easter Celebrations
- Mumbai
- Goa
- Maharashtra
- Tamil Nadu
- Kerala
Conclusion
On this holy day, Christians go to churches to offer their prayers to Jesus Christ. Priests in the church remember the agony that Christ underwent to atone for humankind’s sins, as well as the miraculous account of his resurrection. On this day, people give one another decorated eggs and bunnies as a symbol of wealth. Christians give their loved ones chocolate cakes, flowers, and vibrant lanterns in addition to Easter eggs and bunnies.