Transcript HAPPY EASTER TIME

HAPPY EASTER TIME
EASTER FOR KIDS AND
TEACHERS
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WHAT IS EASTER ?
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Easter is the celebration Jesus Christ's return to life
after his crucification. It is usually celebrated on the first
Sunday after the full moon following the first day of
Spring. This can be any Sunday between March 22 and
April 25. It is the most sacred of all the Christian
holidays or celebrations.
His return from death is called the Resurrection.
According to the scriptures, Jesus tomb was empty three
days after his death. His followers saw him and talked to
him after this. Christians therefore believe that they too
can receive new life after death. Easter is the celebration
of this belief.
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HOW EASTER WAS CELEBRATED
IN ANCIENT DAYS ?
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A long time ago, people used to celebrate
when Spring arrived. People used to believe
that changes in seasons were guided by
spirits or gods. The blooming of plants and
flowers and animals coming out of their
hibernation and the return of birds brought
life back to the land. This new life in spring
symbolizes the new life Christians gain
because of Jesus's death on the cross and his
resurrection or back to life again.
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In ancient Egypt, Easter was celebrated at
the same time Jesus was crucified during the
Passover. This was so for many years.
However, in A.D. 325, a group of men met in
Nicacea, now called Turkey, decided that
Easter should be on a different day. They
chose the Sunday following the first full
moon after the vernal equinox. Vernal means
"spring" and equinox means "equal night".
This special Sunday is the one 24-hour period
in spring when both day and night last
exactly twelve hours. This is how Easter is
celebrated today. However, many Orthodox
or Eastern Christians wait until Passover and
other traditions to celebrate Easter.
WHAT IS LENT ?
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Lent is the forty days special
season prior to Easter Sunday.
Sundays are not counted because
it is the Lord's Day and should be
celebrated and therefore no
fasting. Lent is a period of fasting
or doing without certain foods,
praying and repentance. This is to
serve as a reminder of the forty
days Jesus fasted in the
wilderness. Some countries have
celebrations like the Mardi Gras,
which means "Fat Tuesday" in
French, the day before Lent
begins on Ash Wednesday. It is
also called "Carnival" sometimes.
In the United States, New Orleans
is the place where Mardi Gras is
celebrated on a big scale.
HOW DID EASTER GET ITS NAME ?
NAMES OF EASTER
 Easter was called Pesach by early
Christians. It is a Hebrew name
for Passover. Today, the name for
Easter in many cultures in Europe
are similar to the word Pesah. For
example :
 France - Paques
Spain - Pascua
Italy - Pasqua
Albania - Pashke
Greece - Pascha
Norway - Paaske
Holland - Pasen
Sweden – Pask
Romania - Paste
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The English name "Easter" is
much newer. Before Christianity in
early England, the people
celebrated the vernal equinox with
a feast honoring Eastre, the
goddess of spring. 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. Some believed
that the word Easter came from
an early German word "eostarun",
meaning dawn and white. Newly
baptized Christians wore white
clothes as a sign of their new life
on Easter.
OUR GREETING CARDS FOR YOU
This year, we, the romanians, will celebrate Easter
on 27th April