Happy Easter

Christians begin their 40-day season of Lent with Ash Wednesday as they prepare themselves to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Good Friday is observed on March 29. Easter is celebrated on March 31 to mark the resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus Christ, who is worshiped as God by Christians, was crucified and crucified to save people from their sins. To commemorate this, Christians around the world fast for 40 days and help the poor. They observe these days as Lent every year.

This year Lent begins tomorrow with Ash Wednesday. Special services will be held in the churches on this occasion. Asking is done to symbolize that man is dust and will return to dust.

During these 40 days of Lent, Christians are called to give charity, pray and fast. Those who complete these 40 days are called upon to observe a work fast, abstain from non-vegetarian food, and help the poor. Those who cannot should abstain from non-vegetarian food and perhaps fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

40 is considered a very important number in Christianity. Therefore, these 40 days of penance are undertaken to realize how to love themselves and love others as they love themselves. That is, on these days one should express one's love for others by giving charity. To get God's love one should pray. We need to fast to love our body.

Jesus tells us to make sure that no one knows about fasting. Don't wear old clothes or keep your face pale because you are fasting. It is also stated that one should fast without showing any difference as usual.

What does Easter, the day of Christ's resurrection, have to do with eggs?

Like Christmas, Easter has become a public festival celebrated not only by Christians but by all religions. When Easter comes to mind, the first thing that comes to mind is colorful Easter eggs. These Easter eggs are especially popular in Western countries.

Easter eggs have an interesting story behind them. Before the advent of professional farming, eggs were most popular during the spring bloom. Because generally during cold season chickens do not lay eggs due to insufficient temperature. When winter ends and spring begins, there is a huge demand for eggs in the market. Eggs were also given in those days as payment for the salaries of pastors, writers and servants.

Easter traditions date back centuries. For Christians, Easter is the celebration of Christ's resurrection. However, many Easter traditions that are followed today are not biblical. The most important symbol of Easter, the Easter Bunny is said to have been introduced to America by German immigrants. Old stories about this egg-laying rabbit called 'Osterhase' or 'Oschter Haws' with long ears and short tail are said to have come from Germany.

The Germans first created the story of the Easter bunny in the 15th century. A poor mother hid many colored eggs for her children on Easter. When the children found them, the rabbits jumped and ran away in droves. Immediately the children thought that the rabbit had laid the eggs. In 1680 the story was recorded and published in German literature. The story was then spread around the world by Germans who moved to America in the 1700s and created the Easter bunnies we see today.

Another story told at Easter is very interesting. Easter, the god responsible for birth, once found a bird lying dead in heavy snow. This god, who had mercy on it, immediately turned it into a rabbit. The rabbit also braves the snow and lays many eggs when spring blooms. The story goes that the rabbit laid the egg because it was already a bird and is the Easter Bunny.

A symbol of celebration!

Decorating eggs for Easter is a custom that dates back almost to the 13th century. Eggs were a forbidden food during the Christian Lent Days. So people painted and decorated them to mark the end of Lent, and then ate them as a celebration on Easter. It was then that the multi-colored Easter egg ritual of today developed.

The bunny turned into chocolate, the custom of serving sweets began, colorful play eggs arrived, and decorated baskets to stack them.

Somehow, instead of sitting at home and watching TV menus like can we eat chicken biryani or mutton biryani on Easter, we can play hide and seek for Easter eggs with our children.

Happy Easter!