Easter, also known as the festival of hope, will be celebrated by Christians across the globe this week, starting with Good Friday on 7 April.
Easter is one of the most important celebrations in the Christian calendar as it honours the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For believers, Easter is the joyful conclusion to the lenten season of devoted prayer, fasting and penitence which is observed by Christians over a 40-day period and is concluded by the Holy Week.
However, for some, Easter also represents a time when families get together to celebrate the joy of being one while remembering those who are no longer with them. Others celebrate with a feast while some choose what has become a tradition in a number of South African households of eating Easter eggs.
Phoenix siblings Shiloh, Messiah and Shanaya Hunsraj, who will be partaking in various Easter festivities with family and friends, said eating Easter eggs is one of their favourite parts of the holiday.
“We are looking forward to maybe seeing the Easter bunny and eating loads of chocolate,” the Hunsraj family said.
Pastor Daniel Pillay said Palm Sunday, which is also known as the first day of the Holy Week, is the day Christ makes his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. “The crowd gathered around to see the king (son of God) riding on a donkey, they waved palm leaves singing ‘Hosanna, in the highest’ Christ was given a Royal welcome. Good Friday is a day Jesus died so we may live. A day Christ was arrested and sentenced to be crucified by the Jews, the same people who welcomed him, had voted for him to be crucified.”
On Resurrection Sunday/Monday, Jews believed that if a person dies and does not awake on or after three days, their soul will have departed from their body, giving them no chance of living again,” said Pastor Daniel.
“However, Jesus arose on the third day proving that he really did die and rose again, giving hope of Salvation to all. The churches across the globe remember Christ on this day by breaking bread and drinking red juice or wine symbolising the broken body and the shed blood of Jesus. Many people take many lessons from this act, but the main reason for Easter is the Love God has for all his people, sending his only son to die for our sins,” added Pastor Daniel.
In celebration of Easter and the essence behind the religious festival, the management and staff of Phoenix Tabloid joined by Shiloh, Messiah and Shanaya Hunsraj would like wish all advertisers and readers a blessed and safe Easter weekend. May the joyful season of Easter fill you and your family with renewed hope, love and peace.
