Matthew 22:37-38 (NIV)" 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." History of Easter Easter is a festival of overwhelming joy. The joy that celebrates life. Or, rather, the victory of life over death. But does it have any historic background. Did life really overcame death? Most important, why Jesus is so remembered on Easter? And why those funny stuffs like eggs, and bunnies came to be mixed up with those ideas? Also who brought all those customs on the soil of America? History Of Easter Easter, the principal festival of the Christian church year, celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his Crucifixion. The origins of Easter date to the beginnings of Christianity, and it is probably the oldest Christian observance after the Sabbath (originally observed on Saturday, later on Sunday). Later, the Sabbath subsequently came to be regarded as the weekly celebration of the Resurrection. Meanwhile, many of the cultural historians find, in the celebration of Easter, a convergence of the three traditions - Pagan, Hebrew and Christian. According to St. Bede, an English historian of the early 8th century, Easter owes its origin to the old Teutonic mythology. It was derived from the name Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, to whom the month of April was dedicated. The festival of Eostre was celebrated at the vernal equinox, when the day and night gets an equal share of the day. The English name "Easter" is much newer. When the early English Christians wanted others to accept Christianity, they decided to use the name Easter for this holiday so that it would match the name of the old spring celebration. This made it more comfortable for other people to accept Christianity. But it is pointed out by some that the Easter festival, as celebrated today, is related with the Hebrew tradition, the Jewish Passover. This is being celebrated during Nisan, the first month of the Hebrew lunar year. The Jewish Passover under Moses commemorates Israel's deliverance from about 300 years of bondage in Egypt. It was in during this Passover in 30 AD Christ was crucified under the order of the Roman governor Pontius Pilate as the then Jewish high priests accused Jesus of "blasphemy". The resurrection came three days later, on the Easter Sunday. The early Christians, many of them being brought up in Jewish tradition regarded Easter as a new feature of the Pascha (Passover). It was observed in memory of the advent of the Messiah, as foretold by the prophets. And it is equanimous with the proclamation of the resurrection. Thus the early Christian Passover turned out to be a unitive celebration in memory of the passion-death-resurrection of Jesus. However, by the 4th century, Good Friday came to be observed as a separate occasion. And the Pascha Sunday had been devoted exclusively to the honor of the glorious resurrection. Throughout the Christendom the Sunday of Pascha had become a holiday to honor Christ. At the same time many of the pagan spring rites came to be a part of its celebration. May be it was the increasing number of new converts who could not totally break free of the influence of pagan culture of their forefathers. But despite all the influence there was an important shift in the spirit. No more glorification of the physical return of the Sun God. Instead the emphasis was shifted to the Sun of Righteousness who had won banishing the horrors of death for ever. The Feast of Easter was well established by the second century. But there had been dispute over the exact date of the Easter observance between the Eastern and Western Churches. The East wanted to have it on a weekday because early Christians observed Passover every year on the 14th of Nisan, the month based on the lunar calendar. But, the West wanted that Easter should always be a Sunday regardless of the date. To solve this problem the emperor Constantine called the Council of Nicaea in 325. The question of the date of Easter was one of its main concerns. The council decided that Easter should fall on Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox. But fixing up the date of the Equinox was still a problem. The Alexandrians, noted for their rich knowledge in astronomical calculations were given the task. And March 21 was made out to be the perfect date for spring equinox. The dating of Easter today follows the same. Accordingly, churches in the West observe it on the first day of the full moon that occurs on or following the Spring equinox on March 21., it became a movable feast between March 21 and April 25. Still some churches in the East observe Easter according to the date of the Passover festival. The preparation takes off as early as on the Ash Wednesday from which the period of penitence in the Lent begins. The Lent and the Holy week end on the Easter Sunday, the day of resurrection. Well, There is a Christian saying. It says, "Prophets died, saints died, great men died - none of them ever returned to life. When Christ died some people remembered that he had foretold his resurrection... "The reference of Bible Behind the festive joys, feast, fun and family enjoyment, Easter reminds all of a significant event. The event that Jesus Christ was resurrected, after having suffered and died. It reminds you that Christ, who was crucified on, what is now called, the Good Friday, showed himself up on the Easter. So, it is a time to celebrate. To celebrate - that Lord, who appeared on Earth for the good of mankind, is always with us. That Jesus would resurrect was foretold. The saying came as one of his prophecies. And, with memories sharpened by hatred, his enemies were the first to remember his prophecy. Hardly had he been buried when they approached the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate with a request to guard the tomb. Pilate gave them soldiers and instructed them to secure the tomb. They went, sealed the stone that closed the entrance, and set the guards to keep watch day and night. During the night of Friday, the day of his Crucifixion, through to Saturday, nothing had really happened. So did go the the whole of Saturday, the weekly rest day in Jerusalem then. The things turned different on the early morning of the Sunday, the third day since Jesus was crucified. There was a great uproar and the guards of the tomb were all struck by lightning. for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His face shining like lightning and his garments white as snow. At this sight, the soldiers trembled with fear and remained as dead men. When they came to their senses there was no point in watching over an empty tomb any longer. They went to report the chief priest about the incident. In reply they were asked to distort the truth. And spread a story that the body of Jesus was stolen by his own disciples when the guards were asleep during the night. Mean while, early on the following morning, that was Sunday morning, some holy women started for the tomb. They were surprised to see that the stone had been moved aside. They entered the tomb. And found it empty. As they wondered what all these meant, two angels appeared. The angels told them that Jesus had risen again, as he had already told. Soon Peter, the chief of Jesus' twelve apostles got there along with John, his junior. They found only the linen and the piece of cloth used to wrap his body lied in the empty tomb. Puzzled, they left. But Jesus was yet to appear in front of them. Instead, Jesus went farther. He turned up to join two of his disciples who were journeying from Jerusalem to a village called Emmaus. However, Jesus did not make himself known to them. Jesus to them came to be known as a stranger who had real mastery over the holy Scriptures. Impressed they invited Jesus to stay with them and share their meal. Jesus agreed. But when at the table they recognized Jesus, he disappeared. In no time the two disciples headed for Jerusalem. When they met the apostles and told them about everything happened, Jesus made his appearance. And Jesus convinced them all that he was alive and asked them if anything was there to eat. Then he ate in their presence as a living man does. With this everybody there became overwhelmed with joy that their master had returned to life. And life again had become meaningful to the apostles. Jesus had eaten with them. Talked to them in a familiar manner. And finally he reminded them that he had come from heaven, sent by his Father to perform a task. Now, the task had been done by offering his life for the sins of mankind, it is time for the apostles to follow his suit. And Jesus gave the apostles the Holy Spirit: the power over sin. So one whose sins are forgiven by the apostles, would be forgiven by the heaven. After this Jesus left, as suddenly as he came in. Jesus returned to the same place on the Sunday next, to make believe the unbelievers. And Jesus showed himself now and then to teach his apostles the lessons and to teach them to live without him. Jesus did this for a period of forty days.On the fortieth day of reappearance, when he felt he had given the disciples all that he had to, he went back to the heaven. This same Jesus will come back just the same way He has left. He had left his disciples to carry on his work and to reach his message of love and peace to all. Easter Poems Easter comes but once a year Easter comes but once a year But when it does, we all know its here Children filling themselves with chocolate Dad's down the pub for a pint of beer! We go to the church for the wine and bread Dad's half asleep, and jerking his head Baby sister is here too, munching away On the free easter egg that the Priest gave us today But remember we must, that the Lord died for us And ascended into heaven to give us fresh lives For each and every one of us ******* Easter Holiday Easter holiday, is a celebration of the resurrection of Christ! Jesus Christ, The Son of God, bled and died for us in a sacrifice. This Spring day's celebrated, generally in the month of April. All of the bright and pretty colors, of the Easter outfits with frills. Women and children will wear their Easter bonnets. In the Spring, you'll hear the various musical sonnets. April will bring many rain showers. That'll bring us various beautiful flowers. One special flower for this day is the Easter Lily. It's color is white, and yet snowy & milky. The birds will sing their songs of praise. As we begin to feel the warmth of the sun's rays. As we say "Goodbye" to the winter's gloom, The flowers and trees have already begun to bloom. All of life's beauty, The Lord created, for us all to share. Spring breezes begin to flow, sending fragrances through the air. The winter's thawing will let the rivers, lakes, and streams rise and flow. The beauty of the Earth will make us all feel aglow! Farmers and gardeners will start to hoe. And then they'll begin to sow. On Sundays, we'll hear the various church bells ring. Let's be grateful for the LORD, let's rejoice and sing. If it wasn't for the Lord, we wouldn't have anything! ************ Easter Bunny (by Mary Brandolino) In memory of all the bunnies we couldn't save. I remember Easter Sunday It was colorful and fun The new life that I'd begun In my new cage. I was just a little thing When they brought me from the store And they put me on the floor In my cage. They would take me out to play Love and pet me all the time Then at day's end I would climb In my cage. But as days and weeks went by I saw less of them it seemed Of their loving touch I dreamed In my cage. In the night outside their house I felt sad and so neglected Often scared and unprotected In my cage. In the dry or rainy weather Sometimes hotter sometimes colder I just sat there growing older In my cage. The cat and dog raced by me Playing with each other only While I sat there feeling lonely In my cage. Upon the fresh green grass Children skipped and laughed all day I could only watch them play From my cage. They used to take me out And let me scamper in the sun I no longer get to run In my cage. Once a cute and cuddly bunny Like a little ball of cotton Now I'm grown up and forgotten In my cage. I don't know what went wrong At the home I did inhabit I just grew to be a rabbit In my cage. But they've brought me to the pound I was once loved and enjoyed Now I wait to be destroyed In my cage. ********* When He was being beaten and spat upon When His flesh was being torn by the whip When His back was scourged, Then He saw me being baptized and so He permitted them to do so. When the crown was crushed into His head When He tasted His own blood When the thorns pierced His flesh, Then He saw me praying and so He killed them not. When His cross was so heavy that he fell When He carried wood on His torn flesh When He wished simply to move no more, Then He saw me in confession, and so He got up and walked on. When His hands were being pierced When He hung from a cross When His side was bleeding, Then He said I love YOU. and so He died. ********* THE CRUCIFIXION Why did the sun his beams conceal As if unwilling to reveal That deed of mankind on the day When Jesus, at the altar, lay A willing sacrifice. Earth, too, in terror shook, when He The Mighty, died on Calvary; When for our sins He bowed His head, Gave up the ghost, and quickly sped To regions of the dead. And some who had for ages long Been wrapped in slumber deep and strong, Awoke, and by their converse showed That death no more dominion had In that He died. Why did He die? Ah! blissful thought, When we near death and hell were brought, He left His father's courts above-- O, list to such amazing love-- And died to save. Why did He die? 'Twas love divine That caused Him all things to resign-- A heavenly choir, celestial home, Exalted seat, seraphic song, And all to save. Blest thought! He reigns victorious now, To whom all earth will shortly bow, Let men below and saints above Wonder at such stupendous love, As caused their God to die. In all the world; There is no place As dear to me As in an empty tomb within Gethsemane. Men singing the praises Of the cross, And rightly so, Yet it is to the empty tomb I love to go It's there with Paul I daily die When sore opressed, It's there, where men are loathe to go I sweetly rest. It's there, when heart ache's angry waves envelop me, In Faith, I lift my mournful face My Lord to see. There is no place so fraught with power Our souls to save, As is our Lord's last resting place, His empty grave. In darkest hours of grief, beside a new made mound, I go again, the depths of God's Great love to sound. And while I view the grave and clothes, The echoes ring: "O, Grave, where is they victory" O, Death, thy sting?" As, one by one, the loved ones cross the threshold's gloom, I fain believe, embrace, receive, The Empty Tomb. from "Streams in the Desert 2"