Religious Easter Day History

Before the Easter baskets are found, before the Easter chocolates are devoured, and before Easter ecards are sent, I want to make sure you all focus on what the season really means.  It’s actually late for this short lesson in Easter day history, seeing as how it all begins on Ash Wednesday and we’re waist-deep in Lent, but I’m going to teach you a lesson anyways J Don’t worry, I’ll make it interesting. 

So here it is:  a short lesson on the entire Easter season- from a very fresh, entertaining, but to-the-point perspective. 

What is Ash Wednesday? Ash Wednesday is the very first day of the Lenten season. You may notice people on this day walking around with a cross of ashes across the forehead. This is the ultimate sign that says, “I am such a sinner, and I know it, and you should know it, too.” The ashes are actually created from the burned blessed palms of the last year’s Palm Sunday (don’t worry, we’ll get to that later). 

But wait, what is Lent? Lent is the 40 days and 40 nights where Christians reflect on what horrible sinners they were the past year. 40 days and 40 nights of Lent parallels the 40 days and 40 nights that Jesus reflected in the desert and fasted. Christian sinners ask for forgiveness for their sins by prayer, penance, abstaining (not eating meat), and being a better Christian during this time. It is very difficult and a testament of will power. I think it’s a good idea to send encouragement to those you know struggling with Lent.  

Palm Sunday comes next.

The Sunday before Easter Sunday is Palm Sunday and the start of Holy Week. This parallels that day in the Bible that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and all his fans went crazy for him and put down palms for him and his followers (and his donkey) to walk on.   

Holy Thursday: The Last Supper.

Jesus was Jewish, in case you forgot. So traditionally at this time of the year, Jewish people celebrate and reflect on the day of Passover. On Holy Thursday, Jesus was celebrating this feast of Passover with his friends and decided to break it to them that he was going to be put to death the next day and that this was to be their Last Supper together. This is also when the sacrament and miracle of the Eucharist was created… so I guess it would be the disciples First Communion. Hmm- I never thought of it that way before… 

Good Friday. 

Jesus was tortured and crucified on Good Friday. He died some time between noon and 3pm. So between noon and 3pm this day, good Christians are not supposed to do a thing but reflect and pray.  Jesus’ death was “good” because it led to all the good people of the world getting eternal life three days later, when Jesus defeated death.   

Holy Saturday

Easter Eve is when Jesus was suspended between the two worlds: one of sin and death (presumably hell) and one of light (obviously Heaven). This is known also as the Lord’s day of rest. Jesus’ body lay in the tomb while His disciples are all hiding, scared for their lives.   

Easter Sunday: Rise up!

Jesus comes back to life, defeating death and opening the gates of heaven to the good public. Jesus’ Resurrection (capital “R”), also known as Easter, finally let good people go to heaven. Happy Easter!  Now you can send your Easter cards! 

So there it is- in short, anyways.  If you want to spread the word, American Greetings actually has ecards for all the days of Holy Week leading up to Easter- Lenten Season, Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and even Good Friday.

Tags: ash wednesday, easter day history, easter ecards, good friday, passover, the history of easter, what is passover