复活节是最古老最有意义的基督教节日之一。它庆祝的是基督的复活,世界各地的基督徒每年都要举行庆祝。复活节还象征重生和希望。时间是春分月圆后的第一个星期日。
复活节是基督教纪念耶稣复活的节日。传说耶稣被钉死在十字架上,死后第三天复活升天。每年在教堂庆祝的复活节指的是春分月圆后的第一个星期日,如果月圆那天刚好是星期天,复活节则推迟一星期。因而复活节可能在3月22日至4月25日之间的任何一天。
典型的复活节礼物跟春天和再生有关系:鸡蛋、小鸡、小兔子、鲜花,特别是百合花是这一季节的象征。复活节前夕,孩子们为朋友和家人给鸡蛋着色打扮一番。复活节那天早上,孩子们会发现床前的复活节篮子里装满了巧克力彩蛋、复活节小兔子、有绒毛的小鸡及娃娃玩具等。据说复活节兔子会将彩蛋藏在室内或是草地里让孩子们去寻找。一年一度的美国白宫滚彩蛋活动经常被电视台实况转播。
在多数西方国家里,复活节一般要举行盛大的宗教游行。游行者身穿长袍,手持十字架,赤足前进。他们打扮成基督教历史人物,唱着颂歌欢庆耶稣复活。如今节日游行已失去往日浓厚的宗教色彩。节日游行洋溢着喜庆的气氛,具有浓烈的民间特色和地方特色。
在美国,游行队伍中既有身穿牛仔服踩高跷的小丑,也有活泼可爱的卡通人物米老鼠。
在英国,游行多以介绍当地的历史和风土人情为主,游行者化装成为苏格兰风笛乐队以及皇宫卫士,吸引了众多的游客。
复活节的到来还使人们纷纷换上新衣。过去基督教教徒会在节前去教堂行洗礼,然后穿上自己的新袍,庆祝基督的新生。穿戴一新的习俗保留至今,因为人们认为节日里不穿新衣是要倒运的。复活节期间,人们还喜欢彻底打扫自己的住处,表示新生活从此开始。(中国进出口网)
Easter is one of the oldest and most significant Christian holidays. It celebrates the resurrection of Christ, Christians around the world celebrate every year. Easter is also a symbol of rebirth and hope. Easter is on the first Sunday after the full moon of the vernal equinox.
Easter is a Christian holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus. It’s said that Jesus was crucified, died and resurrected on the third day. Annual celebration of Easter in the church refers to the first Sunday after the full moon of the vernal equinox, if the full moon day happens to be a Sunday, Easter is postponed for a week. Thus Easter may be between March 22 to April 25.
Typical Easter gift is related with spring and regeneration: eggs, chicks, bunnies, flowers, especially the lily, all of them are symbols of the spring. On Easter Eve, the children dye, or color, and decorate eggs for their friends and families. In the Easter morning, children will find the Easter basket filled with chocolate eggs, Easter bunnies, chicks and toys. It is said that the Easter Bunny will hide the eggs in the grassland or the indoors, and then get the kids to find the eggs. The annual White House Egg Roll is often broadcast live on the television.
In most Western countries, people always hold a grand religious procession at Easter. Marchers always wear a robe, holding a cross. They dressed up as historical figures of Christianity, singing carols to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Today, the festival procession has lost its strong religious overtones. Holiday parade is filled with festive atmosphere, with a strong folk and local characteristics.
In the United States, the parading procession has clowns on stilts, and the lovely cartoon character Mickey Mouse.
In the UK, the procession is always with the theme of the local history and customs introduction, the marchers make up the Scotland Pipe Band and the palace guards, attracting many tourists.
The arrival of Easter also makes people put on new clothes. In the past, Christians always went to the church the baptism before the holiday, and then put on their new gowns to celebrate Christ's new life. The custom of putting on new clothes has been preserved, because people think they will have bad luck in the festival if they don’t wear new clothes. During Easter, people also like to thoroughly clean their own home, which means the new life begins.