By Lorie Ham
Easter is just around the corner. It is a time of year filled with joy, celebration, and traditions. While some may be focused more on coloring eggs, Easter baskets filled with candy for the kids, and chocolate bunnies, most Christians focus more on the religious aspects of the holiday. It is still one of the days of the year with the largest church attendance.
While Easter is traditionally on a Sunday, it is what is known as a movable feast as it is not the same Sunday every year. This year it is on April 5. But why does it move? According to Reader’s Digest, in the year 325, the council of Nicaea determined that Easter would occur on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox—unless that happened to interfere with Passover, in which case the holiday would be the Sunday after that.
Like all holidays, Easter is filled with many traditions. Different countries, religions, and denominations have their own, while some traditions seem to be common among a majority of people who celebrate the holiday. According to Mennonite Aid Plan chairman of the board Jim Brandt, Mennonite/Anabaptist Easter traditions tend to focus on the joy of the Resurrection. Many have Easter sunrise services that often take place in a cemetery.
“Easter Sunday morning is one of the most important times in church,” continues Jim. “It is only equal to Christmas in importance. Easter is a time of special worship services and celebration. Christ’s Resurrection marks the defeat of sin and death, offering Christians a ‘living hope’ and the promise of eternal life. The Resurrection signifies that Jesus is alive and actively present with believers, bringing comfort and joy. It is an unshakeable hope that consoles us in difficult times and cannot be taken away. Christians are inspired to come together in worship and to share the joy of the good news of the gospel.”
Many churches also hold a special Good Friday service, which Jim states is more somber. “Good Friday is part of God’s salvation plan that culminates in Christ’s resurrection.” Typical songs sung include “Christ the Lord Has Risen Today” and “Up From the Grave He Arose.”
Another very common Easter tradition is the Easter egg hunt. “The little kids, and even us bigger kids, always enjoy Easter egg hunts in the yard,” says Jim. “Of course, those eggs need to be decorated. So the young ones usually get to enjoy that part also.”
While hunting Easter eggs may seem common to us, one has to wonder where such a tradition originated. According to Wikipedia, the egg was a symbol of the rebirth of the earth in pre-Christian celebrations of spring. However, the Easter egg was defined by early Christians as an Easter symbol of the resurrection of Jesus. It was compared to the tomb from which Christ arose (History of the Easter egg hunt). The tradition of decorated eggs may have arisen in Orthodox Christianity where eggs were stained red to signify the blood spilt by Christ.
Easter celebrations often include special food traditions as well, beyond just Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies. One food often enjoyed among Mennonite families is Paska, a traditional Ukrainian Easter bread. “It is made with milk, butter, eggs, flour, and sugar. All ingredients that were always available in the Old Country,” shares Jim. “It is often topped off with a white glaze.” Oventales has a recipe for Paska for those interested in adding this treat to their Easter traditions. If you are looking for Easter meal ideas, The Pioneer Woman has 60 delicious sounding Easter recipes as well.
As you make plans for your Easter celebrations, both those at home and at church, safety is always an important thing to keep in mind. One such safety issue to consider: Is it safe to let the kids, or adults, eat the Easter eggs after you are done with the hunting? Southern Living has some great tips on whether eating them is a good idea, and what to consider. Among those things to consider are how long the eggs will be out of the refrigerator, are you hiding them in places that could make bacteria a concern, and are you using natural dyes? The dye question is important because it can bleed through to the egg.
If you are having a big celebration, it is also important to make sure you have the insurance coverage you need just in case something unexpected happens. Mennonite Aid/Mennonite Insurance is happy to help with any questions. Just call (559) 638-2327. Here’s hoping you have a safe and wonderful Easter!
