Easter is the time of the Christian year when Chriastians remember the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. They believe that Jesus, son of God, died for everyone's wrong-doings and then came back to life three days later to defeat death and evil. This celebration happened on a date representing the first Full Moon of Spring on the Jewish Calendar. Because of that, Easter Day is always the first Sunday after the first calculated Full Moon on or after March 21st. If the Full Moon is on a Sunday, Easter Day is on the next Sunday.
Holy Week is the last week of Lent and is the week before Easter Day. It starts on Palm Sunday and finishes with the celebration of Easter Sunday. In many churches, during Holy week, special services are held on everyday up to and including Good Friday.
Holy Week is a special time for Christians. Altrough everyday is important, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday are very special to Christians.
Bunnies, Rabbits and Lambs are often associated with Easter because most babies of the animals are born in Spring around Easter time. In Pagan times Rabbits and Hares were signs of Good Luck and New Life because it helped them remember Jesus being raised from the dead and having New Life. The Lamb is symbol of Jesus in the Bible as He was called 'the Lamb of God'. This because Lambs used in the Jewish faith as a sacrifice for people's sins and wrong doings. So Christians believe that Jesus was killed and sacrificed for everyone. In any countries, Lamb is eaten as the the main Easter Day meal.
Like Rabbits and Hares, Eggs and Chicks are also associated with Easter because, in pagan times, they were signs of Fertility and New Life. The Early Christians took over the meaning of New Life because it helped them remember the Resurrection of Jesus. Eggs were used by the ancient Persians and Egyptians to celebrate New Year, wich happened for them in spring time. The eggs were coloured and eaten during the celebrations.
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