On Sunday, April 5, students prepared to celebrate Easter weekend in a variety of ways, from attending church services and observing religious traditions to spending time with family and enjoying seasonal springtime activities.
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Easter is known as the “principal festival of the Christian church, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion.”
The encyclopedia expands into the Christian history of the holiday, explaining that Easter is the celebration of “a joyful affirmation of the belief that through Christ’s conquering of death all Christians will subsequently share in his victory over ‘sin, death, and the Devil.’”
The faith-based aspect of Easter is a very important time of celebration to Mallory McKee, a freshman education major. She shared her personal reason for her love of the holiday.
“It shows us the reason for the Lord dying for our sins, taking the price for us and rising again on the third day to show God’s glory,” McKee said.
McKee shared that her church holds multiple services throughout Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter Sunday. She recalled attending services starting as early as Monday, and continuing up to Good Friday and Sunday.
Easter has been celebrated across the world for centuries. However, while other holidays remain on the same calendar date yearly, the specific date of Easter varies from year to year in accordance with the spring equinox. Easter is typically observed on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox, and can fall on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25.
Many GCSU students choose to go home for the weekend. Madelyn Bynum, a sophomore education major, shared what her upcoming Easter weekend will look like in her hometown.
“My family normally attends an Easter service at Southside church in Newnan,” Bynum said, adding that the service is a sweet time to be with her family and a reminder of her Christian faith.
Easter is primarily a faith-based holiday, yet it is also a time in which people plan events and spend time with loved ones. Some families choose to celebrate through various traditions and time spent together.
“I’m 20 and my brother is 12, but we still do an Easter egg hunt, which I think is a fun time for us to spend together,” Bynum said. “Usually my extended family will come over to my house and have a meal together as well.”
Along with springtime activities, students said that food plays a key part in the celebration. Many families share meals together and make seasonal recipes. McKee shared a family tradition that she values during the celebration every year.
“My mom and I make divinity cookies,” McKee said.
She explained that these cookies represent Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection in that the dessert is meringue-based, leaving a hollow center to represent an empty tomb.
The implementation of these fun activities and traditions allows for people of different beliefs and backgrounds to celebrate and enjoy the spring season. In some places, customs such as egg hunts and treat-filled baskets from the Easter bunny have gradually led to the holiday being celebrated by both Christian and secular communities.
Students interested in learning more about Easter’s religious significance can explore biblical accounts in Matthew 26-28, Mark 15-16, Luke 22-24, and John 17-20 in the New Testament of the Holy Bible.
