If you live in the United States, here are some Easter traditions you should know!

Good Friday, April 14, 2017

Easter 2017: Sunday, April 16

The day after Easter 2017: Monday, April 17th

Easter has come and gone. Those living in the United States should truly understand the significance of Easter to America. But do you really understand Easter? Easter is not just about eating, drinking, and having fun. Let Meijieda Immigration take you into the world of Easter!

Good Friday

The Friday before Easter is Good Friday, a Christian holiday.

Good Friday is the most important day of Holy Week, the week that commemorates the most significant period of Jesus' life. This week begins on the Sunday before Easter (Palm Sunday—when Jesus entered Jerusalem in glory, greeted by the people holding palm branches), continues through the Thursday before Easter (Easter Sunday—commemorating the establishment of the Lord's Supper with his disciples) and Friday (Good Friday—commemorating Jesus' crucifixion for the sins of humanity), and ends on Easter Sunday. The theme of Holy Week is also the core content of the New Testament—the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Easter (Resurrection Sunday) is an important Western holiday, celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon following the spring equinox. Christians believe that Easter symbolizes rebirth and hope, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion between 30 and 33 AD.

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Easter

According to the New Testament of the Bible, Jesus was crucified and resurrected on the third day, hence the name Easter. Within Christianity, Easter holds extremely important and significant meaning, surpassing even Christmas.

The most representative mascots of Easter are colored eggs and rabbits. Ancient people often regarded eggs as symbols of fertility and resurrection. Later, Christians gave eggs a new meaning, believing them to be a symbol of Jesus' tomb from which future life emerges. At Easter, people dye eggs red, representing the blood shed during Jesus' crucifixion and also symbolizing the joy of resurrection. Another ancient custom is to give hard-boiled eggs to children in the street for a game; they roll the eggs forward, and whoever's egg breaks last wins and keeps all the eggs.

On Good Friday and Easter, Western countries hold grand celebrations. Nowadays, these parades have lost their strong religious connotations. They are now filled with a festive atmosphere and possess strong folk and local characteristics. For example, in the United States, parades may include clowns in cowboy costumes on stilts, as well as the lively and lovable cartoon character Mickey Mouse.

The arrival of Easter also prompts people to wear new clothes. In the past, Christians would go to church for baptism before the festival and then wear their new robes to celebrate the rebirth of Christ. This custom of wearing new clothes persists to this day, as people believe that not wearing new clothes during the festival brings bad luck. During Easter, people also like to thoroughly clean their homes, signifying a new beginning.

Although Easter is not as popular as Christmas in China, for those who intend to immigrate to Europe and America, learning more about Western culture can help them adapt to local customs and avoid making a fool of themselves.