My search on the true meaning of Easter

 

Sunday, March 31st, 2024 marks Easter. I am agnostic myself. I know that Easter is actually meant to celebrate the day that Jesus rose from the dead. However, I don't know exactly what this day really means for Christians. A friend of mine, Thirza Osnabrugge (17), is a Protestant and tells me how she celebrates Easter as a Christian.

 

How I celebrate 'commercial' Easter:

I am agnostic and my family is atheist. We still celebrate Easter every year, but we don't really think about the origin of the day at that time. For my family, it's about getting together and enjoying good food. This year, my cousin and her boyfriend are playing host and hostess. The table is decorated with Easter bunnies, chicks, and eggs. We often eat various delicious sandwiches, my grandfather brings fish, and we eat something sweet. We play a game, chat, and eat. Strange, isn't it? How we celebrate Easter has nothing to do with Easter at all.

 

How Thirza celebrates Easter:

 For Thirza, faith is the most important thing. It influences her whole life and her faith is the core of her identity: "My worldview, the choices I make, the morals I have are influenced by it. Through the Bible, I learn who God is and how we should live as people. Through faith, I live in freedom. God frees me from fear, from addictions, and from sorrow." Thirza tells me how she celebrates Easter and what Easter means to her: "For seven weeks, the church services prepare us for Easter. We reflect on the suffering. On Easter, I go to church with my family, where the Easter Gospel is told," Thirza says. "Easter is the most important holiday. It is comforting to know that God loves us so much and is stronger than death."

 

What is celebrated on Easter?

 A few women found Jesus' tomb empty three days after his burial and were told by an angel that Jesus had risen. Easter actually celebrates the day that Jesus rose from the dead, the Sunday after his crucifixion. Easter stands for victory and hope and symbolizes the promise of eternal life. "Good Friday is the day before Easter, the day Jesus was crucified. At that moment, he took all the sins of the world upon himself out of love. He rose again, just as he had said he would. We celebrate that we are not saved by our own good works, but by God's sacrifice. He has overcome death. That is why Easter is also the feast of liberation," says Thirza. It is an important holiday for Christians. Thirza tells me what the Bible says about Easter: "The word 'Easter' is not in the Bible. The word 'Pesach', an important Jewish holiday, is. The Jews commemorate their slavery in Egypt and their liberation by God. It is a feast of liberation, just like Christian Easter."

 

Symbols and Traditions

There are many symbols and traditions associated with Easter. Some of which people don't even know have meaning. These religious symbols are:

• The nails are the symbol of Jesus' wounds on the cross
• The empty tomb symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus
• The cross symbolizes the death of Jesus
• The lamb is a symbol of innocence and purity
• The crown of thorns is the symbol of Jesus' suffering
• Candles symbolize the light of Christ
• Easter bread symbolizes the body of Christ

These symbols symbolize new life, hope, and joy and tell the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

 

I have always been very interested in religions and I always want to learn more about them. Are you also curious and want to learn more about the Easter story without having to attend a church service? There are informative videos on YouTube. In addition, the annual musical "The Passion" also tells the story of Easter in a basic and modern way.

 

Picture by: Liv Hesseling

 

Written by: Liv Hesseling

Sources: ‘KRO-NCRV’, ‘National Geographic’, Thirza Osnabrugge