The search for colorful eggs is what children associate with Sunday Easter.
But what exactly is celebrated on this day?
Read what Christians celebrate at Easter, how the date of Easter is determined and what traditions exist.
What is celebrated on Easter Sunday?
In the Christian faith, Easter Sunday is the day of the resurrection of Jesus. In the early morning an earthquake is said to have chased the guards from the tomb of Jesus, which also opened the tomb. Mary Magdalene, followed by the apostles Peter and John, discovered that it was empty. Mary Magdalene is said to have met the risen Lord and even spoken to him. The resurrection is at the heart of the Christian faith.
How is the Easter date determined?
Since the Council of Nicea in 325, the oldest festival in Christianity has been celebrated on the Sunday after the first full moon in spring. Since the Orthodox Church of the calendar reform under Pope Gregory XIII. did not follow in 1582, East and West usually celebrate on different dates.
What customs are there?
The liturgy of the Easter Vigil uses a number of symbols to clarify the belief in the resurrection: At the beginning of the service, a fire is lit, which symbolizes Christ as the light of the world. A water blessing commemorates baptism.
Easter masses are held in the churches. There are Easter candles with the year, grave lights are lit in cemeteries. The traditional Easter walk commemorates the journey of two disciples whom Jesus met.
By the way: The Easter bunny, Easter egg, catkins, birch green and Easter fire associated with Easter are symbols of life taken over from Christianity from pagan times.
Curious: superstitious farmers used to have four naked girls knock on the corners of the house to clean it of fleas and bugs.