This year, Easter is set to fall on the final day of March. Despite its significance as a key Christian holiday, Easter often remains overlooked and misinterpreted within broader American society.
For many individuals, Easter symbolizes the arrival of spring, typically associated with vibrant imagery of bunnies and colored eggs. In secular circles, it represents the commencement of the new year’s growth, following the vernal equinox when the sun crosses the First Point of Ares in the sky. Occurring annually on a Sunday, Easter is often perceived merely as an occasion for indulging in copious amounts of candy and chocolate, alongside adorning lawns with whimsical pastel rabbit decorations. Children engage in Easter egg hunts, adults exchange chocolate bunnies, and the subsequent day, known as Easter Monday, sees a return to normal routines.
Within the Christian faith, Easter stands out as the most significant holiday, accompanied by the preceding days of Spy Wednesday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, collectively known as Holy Week. At the core of Easter lies the pivotal event of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. As a Catholic individual, I am intrigued by the contemporary Christian detachment from this crucial day of reverence. Easter often finds itself overshadowed by the more universally embraced Christmas holiday and is somewhat marginalized by American media, portraying it as a perfunctory observance that lacks genuine celebration. In contrast, other religious observances like Ramadan and Passover tend to receive greater media coverage, despite the predominant Christian affiliation among Americans.
Given the Christian majority in the U.S., the responsibility rests on this demographic to reinstate Easter to its rightful position as the paramount Christian holiday. One significant factor contributing to the perceived neglect of Easter is the diminishing emphasis on Lent, the 40-day period leading up to Easter Sunday. Lent traditionally involves fasting or abstaining from certain indulgences. Within the traditional Catholic community, to which I belong, Lent is observed with stricter fasting guidelines, thereby accentuating the significance of Easter as a day of festivity. Engaging in fasting practices, coupled with intentional reflection and prayer on the events of Holy Week, imparts a solemnity to Easter that often eludes mainstream society.
Furthermore, a shift in mindset is imperative when it comes to celebrating Easter within the Christian community. It is crucial for Christians to comprehend the gravity and preparation required to truly honor Easter as a sacred occasion. Mere superficial observance, devoid of genuine faith and understanding, falls short of embodying the teachings of Jesus. While Easter is commonly acknowledged, the broader context of Holy Week, replete with profound traditions and spiritual insights, is frequently overlooked. Good Friday, a pivotal day in the Easter narrative, often receives inadequate attention in terms of the rigorous fasting and penance traditionally associated with it.
Through the lens of my faith’s customs and practices, Easter has evolved into a cherished holiday for me. By transcending its portrayal as a mere seasonal festivity, I have embraced Easter in its entirety, allowing me to engage fully in the spiritual depth and communal significance it holds.