Happy Easter!

Commercial hype or religious consumerism? A celebration between tradition on the one hand and funny game for children on the other.

When eggs are painted as colorful as possible and children are running through the garden, when the weather is rainy or there is no garden through flat or house, you know it is Easter. For most children an funny game, for religious people tradition since uncountable years.

But what do we celebrate on Easter? In Christanity, Easter is the annual commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has overcome death as the Son of God. In the opinion of the old church, Easter is the memory of the suffering and celebration of resurrection. Christians commemorate the Last Supper on Holy Thursday evening (the eve before Good Friday), Holy Saturday (day of the peace of the grave of the Lord) until the dawn of the new week on Easter Sunday. On this day joy of Easter, which lasts fifty days until Pentecost, begins. The name „Easter“ is probably derived from cardinal direction east and the dawn, because the rising sun is a symbol for the coming back of Jesus.

In Germany people celebrate Easter by blowing out eggs. After that they are painting them in bright colours. There is no rule, just colour, pattern and fun while painting. Families with children especially like this tradition. After that they hang them on a willow branch. Another tradition is the hiding of small presents, sweets or painted eggs (which were colourd after boiling). It is great fun searching for the presents and putting them into the Easter basket as well as hiding them for kids. In addition, in rural regions many farmers make a Easter-Fire. People meet, sit together, sing, make french bread and celebrate together.

Easter is a wonderful tradition in all parts of the world and brings families together in this holiday of cheer and closeness.

Laura Schlapper