Clad in pristine white surplice and flowing stole, the priest makes his way to the altar of the small wooden chapel — carefully stepping over little children and avoiding adults cluttering the aisles.
Turning, he beholds a sea of faces waiting with anxious anticipation. On once-bare walls and from rafters hang vitenge and kanga: clothes arranged to create the illusion of butterflies, a symbol of new life.
Drums are rhythmically beaten as parishioners sing the great hymns of the church, creating an intensity that percussion alone can foster. With willing and thankful hearts, worshipers stream to the front of the hot, humid church and receive the body and blood of Christ.
This is Easter in Africa.
While Easter is the central religious observance for Christians worldwide, each culture has its own unique way of celebrating the observance. And there are just as many beliefs about the meaning behind the word Easter.
Some claim “Easter” is derived from the early English word “Eastre,” believing it referred to the pre-Christian goddess of spring. Another possible origin for Easter is the word “Eastre,” which came to represent the spring festival of returning life.
Others claim the name originated from the German “eostarun,” which means “dawn.” Easter then would refer to the dawn of the new covenant in Christ.
It seems clear, regardless, early Christians chose to take a pre-Christian observance and Christianize it by focusing on Jesus.
Since the origin of the word Easter is pre-Christian, it suggests early believers poured a new meaning into an existing celebration. Because of this, rabbits and eggs are still associated with the celebration.
Eggs symbolized new life in the pre-Christian world. The embryonic chicken is nurtured and develops within the shell, until it taps a way out of the shell and into the world.
The same is true of rabbits. Of all animals, rabbits are known for their ability to multiply exponentially. As a result, the image of the bunny was associated with new life. This shows how, even before the birth of Jesus, pre-Christians recognized their inability to guarantee the continuation of life and their dependence on someone other than themselves.
Even some of the food we eat is connected in some way with Easter. Pretzels were originally designed for consumption during the Lenten season. The twisted shape was intended to suggest arms crossed in prayer. Hot cross buns, a traditional English food, were designed for use on Good Friday. Atop the bun is a cross of icing meant to remind the believer of the suffering of Christ Jesus.
Many traditions celebrate Easter in ways that have been part of Christian life for centuries. One such observance is Lent. This is the period between Ash Wednesday and Easter when Christians consider Christ’s passion and sacrifice. Traditionally, something dear to the believer is abstained from in order to celebrate the sacrifice of Christ. The final week of Lent is called “Holy Week” and is a time in which believers focus on the events leading up to Jesus’ death.
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