The Easter message - is it important? We are not religious, so maybe the message of Easter is not so important to us. At the same time, I think faith and traditions are a very interesting topic. The Christian Easter is celebrated in memory of the resurrection of Jesus, but long before we became Christians in Sweden, there was a tradition of celebrating the sun and fertility in connection with the arrival of spring. Today, the traditions seem to consist of a wild mix ...
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The Christian Easter message
Christian Easter commemorates the fact that Jesus suffered on the cross, died and then rose again so that believers could be forgiven for their sins and receive eternal life. Throughout the Christian world, Easter is a family celebration, but otherwise the celebrations differ somewhat.
While we in Sweden are painting eggs or dressing up as Easter Bunnies, in Spain, people are going to long processions to remind us of the suffering and resurrection of Jesus.
The Jewish Passover - Pesach
What about the Jewish Easter, Pesach? The Jews don't even believe in Jesus, so why do they celebrate Easter? Well, they celebrate the memory of the exodus from Egypt around 1500 BC. That was the night the Passover lamb was slaughtered and the archangel spared the people of Israel.
During Pesach, only unleavened bread is eaten, as the flight from Egypt did not allow the bread to ferment. And it is the word "pesach" (pass) that gave rise to our word "Easter" ...
Traditions at Easter
The Easter carrots probably originates from folklore about witches, who were believed to come from Blåkulla. Easter fires have been known in Sweden since the 18th century and are believed to have come from Holland as a trick to scare away the Easter carnivores.
None of this has much to do with the Easter message, if we think it is related to Jesus' suffering and death. The Easter rice, on the other hand, could possibly be linked to the palm leaves that were scattered in front of Jesus as he marched into Jerusalem.
Why do we celebrate Easter?
Although Christianity celebrates Easter to commemorate the suffering and death of Jesus, the traditions seem to be mixed in many ways, and I choose to see it as the celebration of spring. It may still be cold, but light and warmth are coming, and that's worth celebrating!
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Matts Torebring says:
I think it is very interesting what you write. All our major holidays, especially Christmas, are totally commercialised. Not so much for Easter, which is good. In this way, Easter is a wonderful weekend for community.
If we were to go out on the street and ask, there are probably very few people who know as much as you do. As an active member of the Free Church, Easter has a great Christian message for me. As a family, we want to spend time with everyone and just be a good neighbour. Unfortunately, we also fail sometimes. Hugs.
29 March 2013 - 20:18
Ulla & Torgny says:
Here in Spain, Easter is celebrated all day and all night, with people dressed up and crying as they parade through the streets....so different are the traditions!
Happy Easter!
30 March 2013 - 1:22
admin says:
Matts, regardless of religion, the most important thing about holidays is that you get time for family and friends and to appreciate what is important in life. The commercialisation of the holidays is quite sad, but as you say, it's perhaps a little less bad at Easter than at Christmas, when so much has unfortunately become about gadgets.
Ulla & Torgny, yes, it really is different! Here in Sweden it is very clear that we live in a secularised country.
30 March 2013 - 12:59
Ditte says:
I agree! A spring holiday feels better to me too.
Fortunately, there is not as much "commerce" now before Easter. And certainly not in Thailand where we are. Here comes in a couple of weeks the Thai New Year and it is celebrated heavily for a week. Exciting to experience it. Have previously experienced the Chinese New Year a few times....
Wishing you a great Easter Eve!
30 March 2013 - 13:56
Ingrid says:
Thanks for the nice reading about Easter and the different traditions. We talked about it yesterday, Eva and I, and she commented on the Easter bunny thing.
This is something they never see in Sicily.
I wish you a very HAPPY EASTER!
Love, Ingrid
30 March 2013 - 13:11
Znogge says:
Today, many of our holidays are probably celebrated without much thought to their origins. But there is nothing wrong with celebrating spring...
Happy Easter!
30 March 2013 - 15:03
admin says:
Ingrid, I have understood that Easter is celebrated differently in southern Europe. Not so strange perhaps, every country has its own history of how the traditions came about... I can sometimes be fascinated by how traditions stick, and perhaps also fascinated by the fact that culture often seems to be stronger than religion.
Ditte, do you notice Easter at all in Thailand? In Malaysia, it seemed that all religious holidays had a place - there is something to celebrate all the time... 😉.
Znogge, agree! Spring is an excellent reason for celebration! I don't care about religious manifestations, but I think it's nice if the focus is on family and socialising instead of commercial interests.
30 March 2013 - 20:43
Johanna Siljehagen says:
The original traditions of Easter come from the Assyrian Empire when they celebrated the goddess Ishtar. This festival was to celebrate fertility and the intimate relationship between humans. Then the goddess Ishtar was replaced by Jesus, which suited the Christian church. So really, Happy Easter, Happy Ishtar.
So sex and fertility were celebrated this time.
The eggs and rabbits also come from the ursrpung.
The other Christian traditions have the same origin story.
01 April 2013 - 10:57
admin says:
Johanna, how nice that you tell us! I did not know this.
01 April 2013 - 17:14