Holy Week and Easter 2012

Dear students & readers of this blog,

Easter is coming. Most of us are happy because we have a few days off work or school, but Easter is much more than that. It is a blend of Christian and pagan traditions, but above all, it is the peak of the year for Christians, not only Catholic, but also Orthodox. It is also connected to an important Jewish celebration, Passover, which commemorates the time when God rescued the people of Israel from slavery, with Moses conducting them out of Egypt.

Here's a video on the story of Easter: 

(source: history.com)

But if the video is too difficult for you (there are no subtitles, sorry!), you can always read about the origin and meaning of Easter. Click HERE for an answer to all the questions below:

• What is Easter?
• What is the Easter story?
• Where does Easter come from?
• When is Easter?
• Why does the date of Easter move?
• When is the Easter season?
• What took place on Easter Sunday, about 2000 years ago?
• What happens on Easter Sunday today?
• What are the connections with Passover and Easter?
• What other names are there for Easter?
• Why do we have eggs at Easter?
• What foods are traditionally eaten at Easter?

As for the HOLY WEEK, which is the week leading to Easter Sunday, the most important days are:

• Palm Sunday: It's the day when Holy Week begins. It commemorates the day when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem. Christians usually go to a religious service on this day, and carry palm branches.
• Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday: According to Christian faith, that was the day, or rather, the night, when the Last Supper was held and Jesus was betrayed by Judas.
• Good Friday: This was the day when, according to Christian tradition, Jesus was crucified. So at this point, the natural question is: how come we call this day "Good Friday"? Excellent question indeed! It is said that the name comes from "God's Friday", and that it is "good" because it was the day when the barrier of sin was broken. (source: woodlands junior website)
• Easter Sunday: it commemorates the resurrection of Jesus. It is the most important day of the Holy Week for Christians.

(source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/easter.shtml)

 

Other traditions connected to Easter in English-speaking countries are Easter Eggs and the Easter Egg hunt. And don't forget the Easter bunny, the one who brings children a basket full of coloured eggs as well as sweets and even toys!!

Watch the video below on how to make Easter Eggs:

And here's another video for the Easter Egg hunt:

HAVE A VERY HAPPY EASTER!!!