What comes to your mind when you hear “Easter”? Here are some of the things you might want to know about it:

E – nd of Fasting.

After weeks of penitence and self-sacrifice through fasting, abstinence and repentance, many people including Christians consider Easter Sunday as a day of feasting. Families and friends gather to enjoy food and each other’s company. Reunions and get-togethers are just some of the common ways to celebrate the occasion.

A – ttending Vigil

The Easter celebration begins with an Easter Vigil in the evening of Black Saturday. It starts with darkness while the lights inside the church are turned off. Candles are the source of illumination, symbolizing Jesus as the light of the world, and that Christ has risen.

S – alubong

Filipino Catholics usually open the Easter Sunday through “salubong”, which means “welcome.” It is a ritual that happens before the Eastern dawn mass that involves life-sized statues of the risen Christ and Mother Mary. It also involves participation from the community, including an angel, to be portrayed by a little girl.

The angel is lifted on a harness or may also stand on a balcony. She then hoists the black veil from Mary’s head followed by the singing of the Alleluia. This marks the joy and festivity for the Easter celebration.

T – raditions

Easter traditions and customs vary in different parts of the globe. For instance, Greece celebrates with a mass followed by colourful fireworks, and a feast wherein bowls of a lamb’s stomach delicacy, called “patsas,” are served.

Meanwhile, egg fights are commonly observed in Bulgaria. They believe that anyone who keeps their egg unbroken will be successful throughout the year.

In the U.S., an Easter Egg Roll is hosted annually by the President. Held during Easter Monday, the children and parents enjoy the event filled with entertainment, games and the rolling of Easter eggs on the White House lawn.

E – gg Hunt

Easter eggs are linked and associated with pagan festivals during the spring celebration. The egg is considered as an ancient symbol of new life. For Christians, an Easter egg represents the resurrection of Jesus.

Today, many cultures include egg hunting during Easter Sunday. In the Philippines, kids enjoy the egg hunt as a part of the program in some churches, malls, amusement parks and more.

R – abbit or Bunnies

The Easter Bunny has also become one of the prominent symbols of the celebration. They are known to deliver the Easter eggs, which are symbols of new life.

Though a rabbit is not mentioned in the Bible, it is believed to stem from a pagan tradition. “Eostre”, a goddess of fertility, is symbolized by a bunny. Some say the Easter bunny was introduced to Americans by German immigrants, who brought stories of an egg-laying hare.

These are just some of the things you need to know about the most important day of the Lenten Season. Happy Easter, everyone!

Sources:
http://time.com/
www.mangosalute.com
http://www.whyeaster.com/
http://www.history.com/

Holy Week is the time when a lot of Filipinos go out of town, to make the most of the holidays. But if you can’t go out at this time, here are some staycation tips for Lenten Season.

Several hotels surround Manila, so you can still opt to spend your Holy Week in the metro. You and your family can enjoy the packages offered, usually inclusive of breakfast and lunch buffets, complimentary scheduled trips to various churches, use of pool and Easter Egg Hunts.

This can be a perfect time to learn how to cook. If you’re abstaining from meat, there are numerous fish and vegetables dishes that you can master within the week.

Holy Week is the perfect time to spend time with family. Encourage children to understand the significance of the Lenten Season. Activities, such as making your own palaspas or staging your own puppet show that describes Easter, are great ways to keep your little ones occupied while they learn new things.

Maximize the use of Internet. Help in disseminating vital information, such as weather updates, especially now that we are monitoring Typhoon Chedeng (Maysak) that’s forecast to enter the country.

Pay a visit to the nearest church in your area. Doing the Stations of the Cross is a fitting way to contemplate this season. Also known as Via Dolorosa, it’s a narration of the final hours in the life of Jesus Christ.

So if you can’t go out during the Lenten season, don’t fret. There are a lot of ways to enjoy your staycation!